Chapter 11: Miss Mi Is Very Interested in Lu Chuan

The butler met with resistance from the street vendor but did not lose heart. Without saying a word, he urged the carriage forward, already scheming how to obtain the secret recipe for the candied hawthorn sticks.

Such a task was no challenge for him.

Miss Mi’s wish had gone unfulfilled, leaving her somewhat disappointed.

Yet, compared to her inner disappointment, she was far more curious about the so-called Lord Lu mentioned by the vendors. What sort of person could he be?

“Young Master Jun, let’s first find an inn to stay at. I will attend to some matters, and once they are settled, we will return.”

“Ah? We’re heading back so soon?” Miss Mi was quite surprised. Though she rarely ventured out, she knew well that the Mi family’s merchant caravan often traveled for months, sometimes over a year before returning. She had only accompanied them for less than a month—why return already?

“Yes. This time, my purpose in coming to Lu County is not for trade, but to investigate the local conditions. Young Master Zhu intends to establish a business there.”

“I see…” Miss Mi felt deeply disappointed.

The butler understood her thoughts but could not give her the opportunity to linger. His duty was to thoroughly investigate Lu County and ensure Miss Mi’s safe return.

To make sure Miss Mi was comfortable, the butler booked the finest room in the largest and best Lu family inn in Lu County.

To guarantee her safety, he assigned thirty guards to accompany her before attending to other affairs.

After the butler departed, the maid fumed, “Master Sheng is too much—he abandoned us here without a word! Young Master, are we really going to stay put? Everyone saw from the carriage; it’s so lively outside!”

“Shh—” Miss Mi quickly gestured for silence. “Xiaocui, keep your voice down! We’ll go back to the room first, then find a chance to slip out quietly. It’s so bustling here; I definitely want to explore.”

The maid’s eyes lit up, nodding eagerly.

The two entered the inn’s best room, immediately feeling a gentle warmth wash over them, stirring their curiosity.

It was winter, bitterly cold outside, freezing one’s fingers stiff.

Though the inn was decent, it was only slightly better than average—where could this warmth be coming from?

More puzzling was that the warmth was soft and comforting, unlike the harsh heat near a brazier.

A careful look around revealed no braziers or firepits, yet the room was cozy, as if it belonged to a different world compared to the outside chill.

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“Master, it’s so warm here! How is this possible?” Miss Mi had no answer but was determined to find out.

Placing her hand on the floor, she was astonished to find it warm.

How could that be? The floor was paved with bluestone, which should be icy in winter—how was it radiating heat?

Perplexed, she finally summoned the innkeeper to ask.

Though the Mi family was extraordinarily wealthy, even they relied on stoves for heat in winter. If their floors could be warm, would they still worry about the cold?

The innkeeper chuckled upon hearing her question.

“You’ve asked a good one, Young Master. Every guest who stays here asks the same. Our rooms are warm because we use the underfloor heating system proposed by Lord Lu. In all of Lu County, only our Lu family inn offers such rooms.”

“Underfloor heating?” Miss Mi looked down at the bluestone floor. “How do you keep the floor warm? You can’t be lighting fires underneath?”

“No, no! Lord Lu said fires beneath were too dangerous. Instead, we lay pipes beneath the floor and circulate boiling water through them, using the hot water to warm the room.”

“Pipes? Hot water circulation?” Miss Mi was utterly confused—these were terms she had never encountered.

“What are these things? Could you explain in detail?”

“Well… I only know the basics and don’t understand exactly how the underfloor heating is constructed. If you want to know, you’ll have to consult Lord Lu himself.”

Lord Lu again…

Miss Mi’s curiosity about this Lord Lu deepened; she was eager to meet him and see what he was like.

After the innkeeper left, Miss Mi quickly called Xiaocui. The two slipped out through the window and escaped.

Once outside, a smile spread across Miss Mi’s face.

This was exactly what she wanted—to sneak out and explore. Being confined to a carriage every day was dull.

With Lu County so lively, she was determined to roam and see it all.

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And that Lord Lu—she was resolved to find a way to meet him, to ask about the candied hawthorn recipe and this mysterious underfloor heating.

With a clear purpose, Miss Mi acted decisively, inquiring along the way and heading straight to the Lu family mansion.

At this moment, Lu Chuan furrowed his brow again. Reports had reached him that Young Master Jun of the Mi family, accompanied by a maid, was approaching.

Should he meet them?

After weighing the gathered intelligence, Lu Chuan suspected Young Master Jun’s behavior was unusual.

Though the Mi family heir traveled with the caravan, he stayed inside the carriage the entire time, refusing to appear publicly. Even bargaining with the butler and vendors over the candied hawthorn recipe was odd.

Well, that could be explained—after all, Lord Lu invented the candied hawthorn. If the Mi family acquired the recipe and sold it in Xuzhou, it could be profitable.

Despite their immense wealth, the Mi family wouldn’t disdain such a small trade.

But upon arrival at the inn, the butler abandoned Young Master Jun to handle business elsewhere, which struck Lu Chuan as odd.

If Young Master Jun was truly the Mi family heir traveling with the caravan, he would command full responsibility. Why hand it over to the butler?

Thus, Lu Chuan strongly suspected Young Master Jun’s identity was questionable.

But since Young Master Jun had just arrived in town, Lu Chuan’s men had little information, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions.

“Sir, Young Master Jun of the Mi family is almost here. Shall I send men to intercept them?”

“No! Do not intercept!”

After careful thought, Lu Chuan made his decision.

He had been caught off guard before by Cao Cao and Xiahou Dun’s disguises, which concealed their identities.

This time was different. Having sensed something off about Young Master Jun, he was prepared and would not be fooled again.

“Order the gate to remain open as usual, and pay the full ten thousand coins reward for any information—down to the last coin! I want to see exactly who this Young Master Jun really is!”