Chapter 22: Debt

The next day, Shen He took Gu Yu and bought many pastries that Chen Suixin liked, then headed to the Chen residence.

Upon arriving, she heard that Chen Suixin was also practicing dance, likely preparing for the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet.

Following a servant, Shen He entered Chen Suixin’s courtyard, where faint sounds of zither and bamboo flutes floated through the air.

Circling around the screen, she saw Chen Suixin in a plain, long white dress as pure as snow, her movements graceful and ethereal, like a water lotus dancing lightly in the breeze.

Chen Suixin was the kind of beauty whose charm was not striking at first glance but whose aura was extraordinary.

Seeing Shen He, she quickly stopped playing the music and smiled as she walked over. “A He, what brings you here?”

“Nothing much, I just missed you.”

“You silly girl, I’m right here in the residence. You can come anytime you want. But I’ve been quite busy these days, so I might not have much time to keep you company.”

Shen He signaled to Gu Yu, who quickly handed over the gifts they had brought to Chen Suixin’s maid.

“Why did you bring so many things?” Chen Suixin asked with a smile.

“Yesterday, I went to Jinmo Street and saw these all looked like your favorites, so I bought them all for you. These were just bought fresh from Xiangde Zhai. Try them quickly.”

Chen Suixin nodded and asked a maid to plate the treats, then gave some to the martial arts instructor so they could all take a short break. The two sat down in the courtyard.

Chen Suixin took a bite of the pastry. “Mmm, it’s my favorite red date flavor. You really understand me best, A He.”

She then took a sip of tea.

“Have some more,” Shen He offered another piece of preserved fruit.

Chen Suixin politely declined, “I can’t eat more. I’ve been trying to control my figure lately.”

“You’re dieting? You’re already so slim. Why would you need to control anything?” Shen He asked in disbelief, admiring Chen Suixin’s slender waist.

“This is actually the most pastries I’ve eaten recently. I just couldn’t resist.”

“For the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet?”

Chen Suixin nodded. “By the way, I heard General Shen reported Shen Yan’s name for the banquet?”

“I’m not getting involved in that drama. Shen Yan has been training hard at home recently, but compared to you, she’s not nearly as diligent—she’s even skipping meals,” Shen He said, popping a piece of preserved fruit into her mouth.

“A few days ago, the madam from the Music Bureau came to my father to ask if I would perform the Feitian Dance at the Mid-Autumn Palace Banquet. The other selected girls are to be my backup dancers.”

“Feitian Dance?”

The Feitian Dance was known for its extreme difficulty and had never truly been replicated.

A rope was tied around the dancer’s waist; four or five people below would pull the dancer up high, allowing her to dance in midair. The dancer had to perfectly control the tension of her entire body—not too stiff, not too loose—and make her movements appear as graceful as flying in the sky.

Previously, someone had tried to replicate the Feitian Dance but accidentally broke an arm, and since then, no one dared attempt it again.

For some reason, Shen He felt uneasy, perhaps unwilling to see Chen Suixin face any danger. She said anxiously, “No, that’s too dangerous!”

Seeing how concerned Shen He was, Chen Suixin felt her heart warm and smiled. “You know me well. I’m not doing this for fame. I want to try the Feitian Dance myself, as a challenge.”

Shen He understood. Chen Suixin had a kind of obsessive passion for whatever she set her mind to, determined to do it perfectly.

This was something they both shared.

It was precisely for this reason that the two had become such close friends.

“I understand, but you must be very careful,” Shen He warned worriedly.

Night fell at the Shen residence.

After the maids had left, Shen He tidied herself up when a light voice came from behind.

It was Qin Yi.

Shen He turned and sat on the bed; Qin Yi stood before her.

“What did you find out?”

“Just as you suspected, Xiao Jingren and Yan Qingyu are running an underground bank.”

“It was originally very covert. Whenever we found a clue, it would disappear again. Later, we discovered another group was investigating too.”

Shen He frowned slightly. “Who are they?”

Qin Yi replied, “We haven’t identified them yet.”

“Have they found out about you?”

“Don’t worry, they definitely haven’t. Yan Qingyu runs an underground gambling den. When someone loses too much money, they’re forced to borrow from Xiao Jingren’s underground bank.”

Shen He nodded. “Do we have any proof that these two are involved?”

“No. Both places appear to be independently operated, with no evident connection to them. There isn’t enough evidence.”

“All right, keep me updated on any news. Make sure no one finds out. It’d be best if we can find out who that other group is.”

“Rest assured.”

After speaking, Qin Yi vanished.

Shen He pondered: who else could be investigating Xiao Jingren?

A few days later, Qin Yi handed Shen He a list of creditors owed by Cui Ya’s husband.

Shen He frowned as she looked over the list and the amounts owed—an astonishing total of two thousand taels!

What on earth was this man doing?

With such a huge sum, even if Cui Ya washed clothes all her life, she might never repay it. They needed to find a way to get Xiao Jingren to cough up some money.

Looking at the interest behind each loan, the rates were shockingly high. Cui Ya had been foolishly repaying bit by bit, but her share likely didn’t even cover the interest.

Shen He stood and instructed Gu Yu, “I’m going out. Find a guard from the residence to accompany me.”

Gu Yu whispered, “Miss, is it dangerous?”

“Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. Just do as I say.”

Gu Yu dared not ask more and soon brought Ah Liang, one of the more capable guards, to accompany Shen He.

Following the address provided by Cui Ya, Shen He found Cui Ya’s in-laws’ home—a small courtyard hidden deep in an alley.

Before entering, she heard loud, cheerful laughter inside.

Shen He knocked. An elderly woman answered the door. Behind her sat a short, sturdy old man comfortably eating peanuts and sipping wine.

“You must be Cui Ya’s in-laws?”

The old woman was momentarily stunned. “Who are you?”

“I’m a friend of Cui Ya.”

The woman scrutinized Shen He with a flicker of suspicion in her eyes.

“What do you want from us?”

Shen He stepped past the woman into the courtyard. On the table were fish and meat dishes, and the wine smelled top quality.

She glanced inside the house, where a table was scattered with what looked like valuable jewelry.

The couple, seeing Shen He enter uninvited, stood up and demanded, “Who are you? What is this about?”

“Where is the money Cui Ya sends back every month?” Shen He asked bluntly.

The in-laws exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with unease.

“What money? We don’t know anything,” Cui Ya’s father-in-law laughed awkwardly.

Shen He sneered coldly. “The money Cui Ya earns with hard work every month, she sends it back to you to repay debts, but you indulge yourselves in luxury. I bet not a penny has been paid off!”

Cui Ya’s mother-in-law’s face turned grim. “What nonsense are you talking about? We don’t live in luxury!”

“Does this table of food and wine cost one or two taels of silver?” Shen He pointed at the spread.

“We’re old now; what’s wrong with eating well?” Cui Ya’s father-in-law snapped, stiffening his neck.

“Cui Ya is not related to you by blood and has no children. There’s no reason for her to support you. The debts she carries were incurred by your son. Now you’re squandering Cui Ya’s money here. Aren’t you afraid of retribution?” Shen He demanded sternly.

The old man, humiliated and angry, shouted, “You little brat, who do you think you are, meddling in our family affairs! We’re old and will die soon anyway. She’ll never repay all the debts this lifetime. Let us enjoy ourselves a little—it’s her way of showing filial piety!”

Shen He laughed bitterly at his words.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the door.

“This is the place! Old man, come out and pay your debts!”