Chapter 48

Proofreader : Mim

The next day, Xie Lanxu received an assignment to go into town to purchase supplies. Li Zhi, being specifically chosen to accompany him, rode alongside him in a bullock cart. After six months, she was finally returning to the town once more.

Spring was on the horizon, and the horse ranch needed an endless list of supplies—covering nearly every type of shop in the market.

By midmorning, the streets were bustling with activity. Men and women moved to and fro; no matter if they were older women or young maidens, they all walked openly without covering their faces. In Mingyue Tower, it seemed the most unsellable items were veils or face covers.

As Li Zhi and Xie Lanxu walked through the streets, she could feel countless gazes falling upon them.

She followed those eyes, and anyone who met her gaze would quickly avert their eyes—some shy, others anxious.

Li Zhi turned to look at Xie Lanxu. The young man stood tall and graceful, exuding an aura of elegance even in plain clothes. His presence, refined and otherworldly, seemed to draw attention effortlessly.

“What are you looking at?” Xie Lanxu asked, eyes fixed forward.

“I’m looking at Your Highness,” Li Zhi teased, smiling faintly. “You’re so handsome, it’s hard not to notice how much attention you attract.”

Xie Lanxu glanced at her sideways, then, hidden beneath his sleeve, he quietly took her hand.

“I think they’re looking at you instead.”

They stopped in front of a street stall run by a man dressed in exotic attire. Xie Lanxu crouched down and picked up a pair of silver filigree earrings inlaid with kingfisher feathers shaped like fish.

Though displayed on the ground, the craftsmanship was exquisite—no worse than the fine accessories Li Zhi had seen in the Li Mansion in the past.

Xie Lanxu gestured for her to come closer. Li Zhi squatted beside him, and he gently held the earrings to her ears, studying how they looked against her face.

“Beautiful. They’re mine,” the dark-skinned vendor spoke in broken local dialect, trying to attract a sale. “Just one bird. All its feathers, only for this pair of earrings.”

“How much?” Xie Lanxu asked.

“Ten taels of silver,” the vendor said.

For a piece of kingfisher feather jewelry, the price wasn’t unreasonable. Xie Lanxu pulled out ten taels of silver and paid for it.

Li Zhi opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, Xie Lanxu already held the pair of earrings and began fastening them onto her ears.

His fingers brushed against her earlobes as lightly as feathers, bringing an unfamiliar and almost unsettling sensation.

She unconsciously held her breath, only exhaling when his hand finally pulled away.

Satisfied, he admired how the earrings looked on her. The kingfisher feathers shimmered gently under the sunlight, and a smile tugged at his lips.

“‘I throw you a quince, and you return me with precious jade,’” Li Zhi said playfully as she picked up a silver hairpin from the stall. It had an exotic design: two lifelike ginkgo leaves curving around a pale jade stone, as if the leaves were cradling a ginkgo fruit—simple yet elegant.

“Don’t dislike my choice, Ah-Li,” she added teasingly.

Xie Lanxu glanced at the hairpin she had chosen, his expression softening.

“Naturally, I wouldn’t.”

Judging by his look, it was clear he genuinely liked her choice.

Li Zhi paid for the hairpin, still smiling.

The two of them rose to leave, but as they turned, Li Zhi suddenly froze in her tracks.

Standing a few steps away was Lu Congruan, accompanied by two plain-looking servants. Gone were the crowds of beautiful maids who usually surrounded him.

Lu Congruan’s expression was dark as he stared at Li Zhi and Xie Lanxu standing side by side.

“…Young Master,” Li Zhi greeted. As part of Lu Mansion’s servants, she was obligated to bow and show respect.

Lu Congruan ignored her completely, his furious gaze fixed on Xie Lanxu.

The latter, however, remained composed and unbothered. “Young Master Lu, long time no see.”

“…Yes, it’s been a while,” Lu Congruan said through gritted teeth, his anger barely contained. His eyes burned with resentment as they darted back and forth between Xie Lanxu and Li Zhi. “It seems you both have changed quite a bit.”

“All thanks to you,” Xie Lanxu replied with a faint, mocking smile.

Lu Congruan’s chest rose and fell with agitation, but whatever harsh words he wanted to say were held back by his remaining shred of reason.

Li Zhi kept her head lowered, letting the two men glare at each other while she drifted into her own thoughts.

After a moment of tense silence, Lu Congruan turned abruptly and stormed off, his sleeves sweeping angrily behind him.

“Let’s go,” Xie Lanxu said softly. “He won’t let this go.”

“How can you tell?” Li Zhi asked.

Xie Lanxu glanced at her. “I’m guessing.”

—

After Lu Congruan’s unwelcome interruption, the two of them quickly finished their business, purchasing the necessary supplies for Steward Li, before returning to the ranch by bullock cart.

That night, Li Zhi sat in her room under the soft glow of an oil lamp, attempting to mend the trousers she’d torn during training. She tried to sew a straight line, but despite her efforts, the thread veered off course. When she looked down, she realized her stitching had turned crooked.

She hesitated, unsure whether to tear the seam apart and start over or just wear it as is.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps outside in the courtyard.

Her expression changed. She set the mending aside and rose to her feet.

Notes:

1. Kingfisher Feather Jewelry (点翠饰品): This delicate, traditional accessory was made using real feathers of kingfisher birds, known for their iridescent blue color. This reflects both Li Zhi’s and Xie Lanxu’s appreciation for fine artistry despite their current circumstances.