Chapter 29
“You spilled my wine, and you dare beg for mercy?” The burly armored man kicked Li Jinzhi to the ground. “Do you even know how much this jug of wine is worth? It could buy ten of you!”
Despite being beaten, Li Jinzhi forced a smile. Once a handsome and refined son of an official family, he now wore tattered clothes, his face and hands covered in dirt and scars, looking both pitiful and pathetic.
Li Zhi recalled that he had bribed the county security officers to be assigned to a wealthy household. Yet somehow, he had ended up in the hands of this new master.
When Li Jinzhi raised his head, he saw her. But unlike her sympathetic gaze, the look in his eyes, upon seeing her standing cleanly dressed beside Lu Congruan, was one of disbelief.
That disbelief soon turned into greed and ambition. His eyes glowed green like a starving wolf.
He must have been wishing with all his heart that he was the one standing next to Lu Congruan, even if it meant wearing a maid’s skirt.
Li Zhi lowered her eyes, pretending not to recognize him, and followed Lu Congruan up the stairs to a private room on the second floor.
On the staircase, a young boy with his hair tied in a child’s topknot leaned against the railing, playing with a pinwheel and humming a nursery rhyme. When he saw the group ascending the stairs, he turned and scampered away.
Li Zhi faintly caught two lines from the rhyme:
“Green turtle meets white rabbit, Golden mountain shrouded in mist.”
“Who can solve the riddle? He who questions heaven and earth.”
Li Zhi’s gaze lingered on the boy until he disappeared around a corner.
“That’s the restaurant owner’s youngest son. What’s wrong?” Lu Congruan noticed her gaze.
“…He was singing an unusual rhyme,” Li Zhi replied.
“Just a nursery rhyme,” Lu Congruan dismissed it. “These cryptic songs are everywhere, nothing special.”
A waiter led the group into a private dining room. Once Lu Congruan sat down at the elegant window seat, he waved at Li Zhi.
“Come, sit next to me.”
“Young Master, that wouldn’t be appropriate,” Li Zhi said, lowering her head to refuse politely. “I am but a servant. It is my duty to stand and attend to you.”
“Oh, come now. Do I seem like someone who cares about empty formalities? I told you to sit, so sit! This restaurant’s drunken goose dish is famous. I made sure to reserve their best goose three days in advance. You must try it—it’s simply divine!”
Lu Congruan insisted she sit, while Xunfeng, standing behind him, looked like she was ready to shoot fire from her eyes.
Li Zhi felt nothing but irritation for this oblivious young master who lacked both awareness and empathy.
“If the Young Master feels lonely dining alone, why not invite Sister Xunfeng to join you?” Li Zhi suggested with a humble tone. “Sister Xunfeng is your most loyal servant. If a maid must accompany the Young Master at the table, it should naturally be her.”
Having been refused twice, Lu Congruan’s expression darkened.
“Fine! If you don’t want to eat, then stand there with the others!”
Li Zhi didn’t try to placate him and instead moved to stand near the door.
The rest of the meal was tasteless for Lu Congruan. After a few bites, he pushed his plate away and declared he was done, leaving a table full of untouched dishes.
For the sake of a stale steamed bun, Aunt Zhu had once sold her dignity and body. But here was Lu Congruan, the privileged son of the Commander, casually ordering an extravagant spread of dishes, only to abandon them after a few bites.
Li Zhi felt a fire burning in her chest.
“Young Master, such a feast is too precious to waste.”
Her bold words drew the attention of everyone in the room.
She stepped forward and lowered her head respectfully. “The sages have said, ‘Restraint is the foundation of virtue; frugality ensures long-lasting prosperity.’ Young Master, why not have the dishes packed to take home? The young lady rarely dines out, and the drunken goose would make a thoughtful gesture from her elder brother. As for the other dishes, they could be given to the household servants as a reward for their loyalty.”
“You have some nerve to suggest such an idea!” Xunfeng snapped angrily.
Lu Congruan waved dismissively, signaling that he wasn’t bothered by Li Zhi’s audacity.
“I am the noble son of the Commander. Taking leftovers home would surely tarnish the image of our household—”
“Precisely because you are the son of the Commander, you should lead by example and demonstrate the benevolence and thrift that define the governance of this household,” Li Zhi countered calmly, bowing slightly as she spoke.
Lu Congruan thought for a moment before waving his hand again. “Summon the waiter. Have these dishes packed in food boxes. We’ll take them home and distribute them to the servants. As for the drunken goose, order another one. The one on the table now… you can eat it.”
“Young Master—”
Both Li Zhi and Xunfeng spoke at the same time.
Lu Congruan shot a warning glare at Xunfeng, then turned to Li Zhi and said, “If you refuse again, I won’t pack anything at all.”
Li Zhi closed her mouth.
News of Lu Congruan packing up the dishes from the restaurant quickly reached Commander Lu Han’s ears.
Lu Han, who knew his only son’s nature well, was baffled. Lu Congruan wasn’t exactly a hedonistic wastrel, but he lacked talent, and his character was far from exemplary. Lu Han had no great expectations for his son; he only hoped the boy would stay out of trouble and maintain the family estate he had built.
But this spoiled son of his, who had never known hardship and always wasted extravagantly, had suddenly turned frugal today.
Lu Han, intrigued, summoned his son to the study.
As the only child of the family, Lu Congruan had never experienced the scheming typical of large aristocratic households, nor the cold, distant relationships seen in the imperial court. He and Lu Han shared a close bond.
As soon as he entered, Lu Congruan casually strolled over and collapsed onto a couch.
“Entering without bowing—who taught you such manners?” Lu Han feigned a stern tone.
“Father, please forgive me. Your son walked ten thousand steps today and is utterly exhausted,” Lu Congruan replied. Propping himself up halfway, he made a formal hand gesture to salute his father before flopping back down.
“Where did you go?” Lu Han asked, rising from behind the desk and sitting on the opposite side of the tea table near the couch.
His trusted servant, Ma Guozi, entered with two cups of tea, set them on the table, and discreetly withdrew.
Lu Congruan sat up, grabbed a teacup, and took a big gulp, sighing with satisfaction.
“This morning, I inspected accounts at several farmsteads. In the afternoon, I went to our tie-dye workshop to check the latest batch of goods. I was so busy I felt dizzy by the time the Shen hour (3–5 PM) rolled around. Then I remembered it was market day, so I went to the town square, browsed around, and even had a meal at a restaurant. That took me all the way to evening. I’ve just returned.”
“I heard you even packed up the leftovers from your meal,” Lu Han said with a smile.
“Did I act too miserly?” Lu Congruan asked, looking uneasy.
“You did very well,” Lu Han praised. “The Emperor entrusted me with governing Mingyue Tower. The people here are rugged and unruly, and with so many eyes watching us, your frugality and modesty brought me great comfort.”
Pausing, he added, “However, I’ve advised you on such matters many times before. Why did you only come to your senses today?”
“Father, don’t laugh at me when I tell you this,” Lu Congruan said with a grin. “It was one of the maids in my courtyard who persuaded me.”
“Oh?” Lu Han raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. “Was it Xunfeng or Yiren?”
The two maids Lu Han mentioned were Lu Congruan’s closest attendants, so it was natural for him to guess their names.
“Neither,” Lu Congruan said smugly. “It was a maid from my sister’s courtyard that I traded a book for. Her name is Li Zhi. She was once the daughter of Li Qiaonian, the second-rank Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat. But due to her family’s involvement in the Crown Prince’s treason case, she became a convict’s daughter and was exiled here to Mingyue Tower.”
“Li Zhi?” Lu Han’s expression shifted. “This isn’t appropriate. You should return her to the Xuan Zhi Courtyard.”
“Why?”
“Li Zhi was personally recommended by the Imperial Grandson and was brought to the Duhu Mansion because of the help she provided him on the exile route. To this day, she maintains a close connection with the Bamboo Courtyard.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Lu Congruan frowned in dissatisfaction.
“My foolish son,” Lu Han said, exasperated. “I’m concerned that Li Zhi’s relationship with the Imperial Grandson might be… unusual. If you get too close to her, it might seem like you’re opposing the Imperial Grandson.”
This made Lu Congruan unhappy. “If the Imperial Grandson truly had a deep relationship with her, wouldn’t he have kept Li Zhi by his side from the beginning? Do you think the Imperial Grandson is someone who would simply abandon someone after using them?”
“That…” Lu Han was momentarily speechless.
“In my opinion,” Lu Congruan continued with conviction, “the Imperial Grandson and Li Zhi have no special relationship. At most, Li Zhi helped him on the road to exile, and bringing her into the Duhu Mansion was just his way of repaying that kindness. Father, you’re overthinking this.”
Lu Congruan’s expression soured further as he stood up to take his leave. “If there’s nothing else, I’m going to rest. I’m exhausted.”
“Ah-Ruan! Ah-Ruan!”
Lu Congruan swept out of the room.
Moments later, Ma Guozi entered, bowing low. “Master, do you want me to stop the young master?”
“He’s my only child—I can’t bring myself to scold him or punish him. What else can I do?” Lu Han sighed.
“Shall I have Steward Tang transfer Li Zhi elsewhere?” Ma Guozi suggested.
“If we do that, Ah-Ruan will kick up a fuss,” Lu Han said helplessly. “Besides, he has a point. Perhaps I am overthinking things…”
“You’re acting out of concern for your son. Thinking too much is better than not thinking enough,” Ma Guozi reassured him. “When the young master has children of his own, he’ll understand your worries.”
“Let’s hope so.” Lu Han sighed again. “Come, let’s go see what Madam is doing.”
—–
After returning from the market, Li Zhi called Jia Sui and the Li siblings to her small room.
Jia Sui and Li Cien arrived together, but Li Xiangsheng was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s your brother?” Li Zhi asked.
“He went out to chop firewood and hasn’t come back yet,” Li Cien said cheerfully. “But once he finds I’m not home, he’ll come looking for me here.”
Li Zhi patted her younger sister on the head and smiled. “It’s almost dark, so he should be back soon. Let’s wait for him.”
“Do you have something important to announce?” Jia Sui asked curiously.
“It’s a secret,” Li Zhi said with a smile. “You’ll know when Xiangsheng gets here.”
The three sat around a small wooden table, and before long, Li Xiangsheng finally returned.
The boy, who spent his days hauling water and chopping wood, now had skin deeply tanned to a bronze hue, making him look almost like a local. Li Zhi noticed that he seemed taller than he was just a few months ago—perhaps from eating well and staying active.
Li Xiangsheng wiped the sweat from his brow as he stood at the door, setting down the wooden bucket he carried.
“Why are you so late? The moon’s already out!” Li Cien whined playfully.
“I got held up on the way,” Li Xiangsheng replied, his gaze landing on Li Zhi. “…Have you eaten yet, Sister?”
“I was waiting for you,” Li Zhi said. “Why are you standing at the door?”
“My clothes are wet—I don’t want to dirty your floor,” Li Xiangsheng said.
“What nonsense,” Li Zhi said, laughing as she personally went to bring him inside.
Only then did she notice the wooden bucket at his feet, half-filled with water and wriggling fish. The small fish, no wider than two fingers, were fresh from the lake and still flopping energetically.
“I caught these at the lake. The locals say they’re delicious when fried,” Li Xiangsheng explained. “They’re for you—to help you regain your strength.”
Imagining him under the scorching sun, netting fish for her, Li Zhi’s heart ached. She took his calloused hand, which bore thickened skin from constant labor and numerous scars from chopping wood.
Smiling, she pulled him inside.
“I have something good too,” she said.
From her cabinet, she brought out the shiny, fragrant drunken goose.
Li Cien gasped in delight.
“This was a reward I received. Let’s eat it together! Drunken goose with fried fish—just thinking about it is making my mouth water!” Li Zhi said with a smile.
“I’ll fry the fish!” Jia Sui exclaimed excitedly, standing up immediately.
Thanks to her good relationship with the main kitchen staff, Jia Sui quickly returned with a plate of golden, crispy fried fish.
At everyone’s urging, Li Zhi took the first bite.
“So fragrant!” Li Zhi exclaimed, her face lighting up with astonishment as the flavor of the fried fish filled her mouth.
“Let me try!” Li Cien grabbed a piece with her hands, holding it by the tail, and popped it into her mouth. “Mmm… delicious!”
“It really is!” Jia Sui added, picking up a piece and taking a bite. As someone who cooked often, she gave her verdict. “The fish meat is so tender, but the skin is crispy and golden. You just can’t get this texture with big fish.”
Drunken goose paired with fried fish still needed something to balance the richness.
Fortunately, Li Zhi had received two liang (roughly 100 grams) of tea leaves back when she was at the Xuan Zhi Courtyard. She borrowed some hot water from the neighboring room and brewed tea for everyone, each with their own small cup.
It didn’t take long for the drunken goose and fried fish to be devoured, leaving behind only empty plates.
The small wooden table was now piled high with bones.
Li Cien patted her round, full belly. Jia Sui, ever responsible, began cleaning up the mess. Meanwhile, Li Xiangsheng broke off a branch from the verdant jujube tree outside and sat at the doorway of the small room, absently dragging the branch across the ground as though deep in thought.
Li Zhi walked over, carefully holding her skirt, and sat down beside him.
Li Xiangsheng glanced at her briefly before letting his gaze fall back to the ground between his feet.
“The moon is so round tonight,” Li Zhi said, looking up at the sky. Then, with a playful tone, she added, “It looks just like a salted duck egg!”
Li Xiangsheng looked up at her, his expression neutral.
“If you don’t think it does, then it must be because you have something on your mind,” Li Zhi teased, smiling at him.
Li Xiangsheng lowered his head again and stayed silent for a long time. Finally, he asked, “Will you stay here?”
“What do you mean?”
“…They’re all saying that the young master has taken a liking to you and that you’ll become a concubine.”
Li Zhi looked at the crease between his brows and couldn’t help but laugh.
“Is that what you’re worried about?” she asked, treating him like Li Cien. She reached out to ruffle his hair and comfort him. “Don’t worry, I have no plans to marry anyone.”
“You’ll never get married?” Li Xiangsheng looked at her, puzzled.
“I won’t,” Li Zhi said firmly.
“Elder sister …” Li Xiangsheng hesitated, choosing his words carefully before saying, “If you don’t get married, I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life. I won’t let anyone bully you.”
Li Zhi was amused by his seriousness and burst out laughing. After her laughter subsided, her expression softened into one of solemnity.
“Elder sister will also do everything in her power to protect you,” she promised.
Contextual Notes:
- Drunken Goose and Fried Fish: These dishes are staples of Chinese culinary tradition, with drunken goose (prepared using wine for both flavor and preservation) often associated with celebration and luxury. Fried fish, particularly small ones, symbolize thriftiness and the ability to make the best of limited resources.
- Nursery Rhymes and Prophecies: The cryptic nursery rhyme the boy sang is a common literary device in Chinese historical fiction. Such rhymes often carry hidden meanings, serving as metaphors or foreshadowing major events. Here, “green turtle meets white rabbit” and “golden mountain shrouded in mist” may hint at future power struggles or hidden dangers.
