The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty (ENGLISH TRANSLATION)

CH 13

All three of them prepped their everyday clothes at the bureau, and when it was dismissed for the day, they changed into them, then left for Immortal Guest.

Pan Bin, Wei Yu, and Tang Fan were all officials promoted via imperial exams. Pan Bin was Tang Fan’s senior schoolmate, while Wei Yu was a Place Honorate from the eighth year of Chenghua — when they started deeply discussing about things, everyone had quite a bit of common ground. Despite Pan Bin typically liking to put on airs, as well as being a bit stingy and fond of bickering as a person, he was not only Wei Yu and Tang Fan’s superior, but also an older generation of official. He had a lot more experience than the other two, and plenty of advice and guidance to spare, thus making the meal one where everyone talked and laughed leisurely, both the host and the guests the utmost of pleased.

At the time they left Immortal Guest, it was still early, no later than a little over halfway through the time of the Rooster.(6pm) Curfew wasn’t yet in effect.

Pan Bin and Wei Yu long had people from their households waiting outside their private room, and they escorted the two back. Tang Fan lived alone, having neither a hired guard nor a need for a boyservant. Noticing that it wasn’t too late, he walked back home by himself after seeing the other two off.

House prices were not cheap in ancient times, especially for those in the capital, where one cun of land was pure gold. The Emperor was miserly, too; ever since the Great Ancestor’s time, several salaries wouldn’t be sent out each year. Many officials that came from outside lands to the capital for office couldn’t afford housing, nor would their rank be enough to attain a Dynasty-granted residence, so their only option was to become an unofficial resident like Tang Fan by renting a house to live in. Some officials were even a bit more tragic, with no choice but to lodge at a colleague’s home, and speaking of it always made them cry bitter tears.

The place Tang Fan rented had convenient transportation, and wasn’t far from the bureau. Were it not for that little section of courtyard that the Li’s had partitioned out of fear of hauntings, where there wasn’t enough room for a whole family to live in, a bachelor like him wouldn’t have gotten this little advantage.

Sunset’s glow filled the sky in the evening’s capital. People hawked snacks and pastries, called their children back home to eat, and greeted and gossiped with those they were acquainted with. Lively and noisy, it had the certain life-like atmosphere of a hangout area.

When he walked into Liuye Lane, he happened to catch sight of the maid Ah-Xia coming out from the Li home and preparing to knock on his door.

“Ah-Xia?”

She turned her head, pleasantly surprised. “You’ve just gotten back, Sir Tang?”

He smiled. “Yeah, I did. What’s this?”

“Today is the Great Heat. Our Madam ordered some pastries made, then had me bring them to you.”

“Why be so formal? I’ve just finished eating, so you can take it back, Miss Ah-Xia. Thank your Mistress for me.”

“If you refuse to accept them, how would I be able to explain that when I go back?” she asked, anxious. “If you want to decline them, you should personally say so to the Mistress!”

She used this trick every time, and he really didn’t have a good way to refuse it. Being a grown man, it would be bad for him to readily go visit another family’s Mistress — even if he had a bit of a friendship with the Li’s — since the patriarch ultimately wasn’t present. Aside from a twelve-ish-year-old youth now in the house, they were all weak or old women and children, so they tried to avoid as much suspicion as possible. Ah-Xia was a servant, so there was no taboo.