Chapter 13: Dream-Soul Balm

“Dream Elixir? Uncle Wu, what is this thing used for? Why does it have such a strong scent?”

The three characters Wu the Mute wrote on the ground spelled out “Dream Elixir.” But Lu Xin, though he had already been in the Tang Dynasty for nearly two months, had never heard of such a thing before. What’s more, people like Hong Er and the others were only lowly servants in the Xu household, earning just fifty copper coins a month. If even they could use it frequently, it surely couldn’t be anything valuable.

If it wasn’t valuable, and yet wasn’t a household necessity, then nine times out of ten, it was something shady.

Seeing Lu Xin persistently questioning the source of the fragrance, Wu the Mute seemed to give up hiding it. He quickly wrote out a long explanation on the ground.

“Dream Elixir, when burned, gives off a peculiar aroma. Sucked through a bamboo tube, it sends the soul into dreams, granting the pleasure of immortals. I don’t know exactly where it comes from, but on the fifteenth of every month, there are people selling it in the alleys off Clear Water Street. And only on that one day each month—if you miss it, you won’t find it anywhere, no matter the price. At first, only a few people in the household used it, but when it was rumored to calm the spirit and help with sleep, more and more servants started using it. It's not just the Xu household—throughout Yuezhou, countless commoners use it.”

“But this ointment is addictive. If you go a few days without it, your whole body feels restless. Master Xu once strictly forbade Dream Elixir in the house, so Hong Er and the others sneak into the latrine to use it. Yet the more it’s banned, the more people use it; in the West Wing alone, there are at least seventy or eighty users. I’ve seen many people use it, and even went out to investigate. The sellers claim it comes from the Western Regions—while it is addictive, it supposedly does no harm to the body. And since Dream Elixir truly has a strong calming effect, everyone has come to accept it.”

“Dream Elixir? Immortal pleasures? It’s nothing but a drug.”

After reading Wu the Mute’s account, Lu Xin immediately understood the role of Dream Elixir. It was almost certainly like modern narcotics, causing hallucinations. Whether it was truly harmless, only the users would know. After all, the changes in Hong Er and Fang Wu’s personalities were definitely unnatural.

“What are you muttering about?” Wu the Mute wrote a question on the ground when he saw Lu Xin whispering to himself. Lu Xin laughed it off and instead asked about the price of Dream Elixir.

“A pair for one copper coin? It really isn’t expensive. If it’s only sold one day a month, this might be an opportunity.”

Lu Xin stroked his nose, lowering his head in thought as his eyes lit up. Suddenly, he felt a surge of excitement—he had always been waiting for a chance, a way to make money. And the appearance of Dream Elixir was exactly what he’d been hoping for.

“Uncle Wu, how much money do you have? Could you lend me some?”

“What do you want it for?”

“I have an idea to make a fortune…”

That very night, Lu Xin borrowed a whole string of coins from Wu the Mute—a full one thousand copper coins, equal to one tael of silver. He had calculated that if he spent all of it on Dream Elixir, he could buy at least two thousand pieces. Then, when the fifteenth arrived, if he could keep everyone else who wanted to buy the stuff from leaving the compound, he could monopolize the supply for the entire month. Everyone in the West Wing who wanted to indulge would have to come to him.

Once his mind was made up, Lu Xin immediately began preparing. First, he needed a partner—someone who could help him secure, store, and even sell the goods. He decided that the best candidate was Cao An, who had once helped him. Unexpectedly, Cao An was also a user of Dream Elixir. According to him, Dream Elixir allowed him to see his family in dreams, fulfilling his longing for home.

The two quickly struck a deal, preparing to join forces for a major venture in the West Wing. Soon, the fourteenth arrived, and Lu Xin’s injuries were nearly healed. As night fell, Lu Xin took the roast chicken Wu the Mute had bought outside and knocked on the door of Liu the Scab, the steward of the West Wing.

“Steward Liu, this is a fine roast chicken I asked someone to buy from Old Alley, brought specially to honor you.”

“Oh, isn’t this young Lu, the one who cleans the privies? You’ve done well lately—I was just thinking of rewarding you. Who would have guessed you’d come yourself? Good, good, come in! The weather’s damp, I’m just warming some wine, ha ha…”

Liu the Scab had sores on his scalp and was strikingly ugly, but as Cao An had told Lu Xin, Liu’s family had served the Xu household since his great-grandfather’s time, making him an old retainer in his own right. That’s how he’d ended up as steward of the West Wing—directly under Xu Sanjin. Despite his looks, Liu was shrewd and tactful, adept at handling matters. Under his management, there had never been any major mishaps in the West Wing. But the more clever and tactful the man, the more he loved money. In their eyes, money could solve anything. Lu Xin had counted on this, which is why he came late at night.

“Tsk tsk, I can’t believe a handsome fellow like me is already resorting to bribery at such a young age. If my grandfather found out, he’d break my damn leg… No, he’d break my leg. He was an old revolutionary—nothing made him angrier than corruption.”

Lu Xin had felt a twinge of anxiety when he entered, since what he was about to do was anything but aboveboard. But Liu the Scab was warm and welcoming, quickly taking the roast chicken to chop it up.

The steward of the West Wing wielded great power, managing the food, clothing, and sundries for nearly three hundred people. Even some of the Xu family’s businesses were run by those he appointed. His residence was the largest in the West Wing, filled with all kinds of furniture and a dazzling array of porcelain— a stark contrast to the rest of the wing.

In the middle of the room was a brazier with wine being warmed on top. Two wine cups sat on a tall stool nearby, suggesting someone had just left. But Lu Xin didn’t care about that. When Liu the Scab returned with the chicken, Lu Xin quickly filled his cup.

“Steward Liu, to tell the truth, I have a favor to ask. Cao An, who’s in charge of the stables, says his mother is coming from the village to visit tomorrow. But I heard that the list of people allowed out from the West Wing is already set for tomorrow. I was hoping you could make an exception and let us both go out.”

“That… won’t be easy. The rules say only ten people from the West Wing can leave each day, and the list is set in advance. You know how strict the Xu household is—I can’t just break the rules. In three days there’ll be an opening, and then I’ll arrange for you two to go.”

Liu the Scab tore into the chicken and drank wine, barely looking at Lu Xin as he spoke, clearly not taking the matter seriously. But Lu Xin was prepared. He slowly pulled a string of coins from his bag.

“What’s this?”

The jingle of coins immediately caught Liu’s attention—he dropped his meat and looked up, his eyes gleaming, his expression shifting.

“Steward Liu, this is half a month’s wages, all for you. You know how a mother always worries about her child, and Cao An hasn’t been home in years. A mother’s love, a son’s devotion—you wouldn’t want to keep them apart, would you?”

“That’s true, but still…”

“It’s easy—just pick a few others and have them wait until next time. It’s just swapping one group for another—not really breaking the rules.”

“Haha, you’re a clever one. All right, I’ll take care of it. Tomorrow, you can take Cao An and go.”

Liu the Scab accepted the money with a laugh and waved Lu Xin off. As soon as Lu Xin left, a man emerged from behind the screen—Feng Li, the head steward of the Xu household.

“That kid’s only been here a month, and he’s already bringing roast chicken and money for you. That’s no ordinary fellow.”

“Heh, he’s clever, all right. But if someone brings you money, you take it and help them out. You brought him in, didn’t you? Keep an eye on him—make sure he doesn’t get above you in a few years.”

“Of course, Steward Liu. I’ll keep a close watch—if anything goes wrong, I don’t want to be blamed. But I want to know why he’s going to such lengths to get out tomorrow.” As he spoke, Feng Li’s eyes flashed coldly; he drained his cup.

Early the next morning, Lu Xin and Cao An left the Xu household. Clear Water Alley was in the southern part of the city—a tiny, hidden lane. According to Cao An, it was the only place in Shanyin County with a night market, full of all sorts of strange and rare things one couldn’t find elsewhere.

Cao An had been there before and knew the way. Even so, it took them nearly half an hour to find it. The alley was tucked away within an already narrow street, backed up against the southern city wall. Some stretches were so tight only one person could pass through sideways. In such a cramped place, even walking was uncomfortable, let alone doing business.

“Don’t worry, that’s just how Clear Water Alley is. There’s not much displayed out here, but whatever you want, you can find. It’s empty during the day, but livens up at night. When we have more time, I’ll show you around properly. Look, we’re here—the window ahead is where they sell Dream Elixir.”

Lu Xin followed Cao An through the winding alley, taking a full ten minutes before they spotted an open window. They hurried over and peered inside. A man sat there, holding a bamboo tube, inhaling with abandon the smoke from a burning lump of something. It was Lu Xin’s first time seeing someone use Dream Elixir, and his throat immediately itched—he almost wanted to try it himself.

“No, this stuff is dangerously alluring!”

Feeling himself react, Lu Xin pinched his arm to clear his mind. Just then, the man inside put down the bamboo tube and stood. He was a burly, rough-looking middle-aged man, dressed like a porter, not someone who seemed likely to be in big business.

“Are you two here to buy?”

The man’s expression was cold, his voice rough. He didn’t waste words, going straight to the point. Lu Xin, seeing how direct he was, raised an eyebrow and tossed his bundle onto the windowsill.

“Of course we’re here to do business. Here’s a deposit—one string of coins. We want to make a big deal with you. But whether it happens or not depends on how much truth you’re willing to tell us.”