Chapter 150 I Hope They Can Travel Safely…

Chapter 150: Wishing Them a Safe Journey...

After seeing off the Lü family, A Chan closed the door and returned to the backyard with the ornamental box in hand.

She first went to Chen Hui's room. Chen Hui was still in deep sleep, but over the past few days, A Chan noticed her hair and nails had grown longer.

This meant her transformation was almost complete, and she would soon awaken.

After carefully observing Hui Niang's condition, A Chan took out the deed from the ornamental box and placed it on the table by the window.

For ordinary people, money was often enough to solve most troubles. Boss Lü, thinking of others' needs, likely intended this deed as a safety net for Hui Niang.

Had they met Hui Niang in life, they would surely have become good friends.

Sadly, their connection was far too brief.

After setting the deed aside, A Chan carried the ornamental box back to her room. Once the door was closed, she eagerly retrieved the Yushan Incense Burner from within.

Most Yushan stones were white or translucent, and the color of this burner was no exception. However, upon turning it over, one could see a patch of green on its semi-transparent surface, streaked with white inclusions, resembling rolling mountain ranges.

The white inclusions looked like drifting clouds in the sky.

She had assumed the burner's value lay in its material, but the artisan had also captured a landscape within it.

The more A Chan admired it, the more she cherished it, almost unable to tear herself away from it.

She set the lid aside and carefully wiped the burner's interior with a clean cloth. When cleaning the inner wall, she suddenly felt an uneven spot—some kind of mark.

A Chan tried viewing it from different angles but couldn't discern the pattern.

Sometimes, too much curiosity could be dangerous.

Preoccupied with deciphering the mark, A Chan even skipped dinner. Only when darkness fell did she reluctantly tear her attention away from the Yushan Incense Burner.

Without Hui Niang around, should she have steamed buns or sweet buns today?

A Chan was torn between the choices when she caught the aroma of roast chicken—it couldn't be her imagination!

She dashed to the door and flung it open, revealing Bai Xiuming standing outside, his raised hand not yet having knocked.

Seeing him holding an oil-paper package in one hand and a food box in the other, A Chan threw herself into his arms, her voice sweet as honey: "Bai Xiuming, I missed you so much~"

Bai Xiuming held his arms out slightly, letting her wrap her arms around his waist and rub her face against his chest.

"Did you miss me, or the roast chicken in my hand?"

A Chan answered honestly: "Both."

"Didn't eat?"

"I just got this incense burner and was so absorbed in it that I forgot." After enough nuzzling, A Chan finally looked up and flashed him a sweet smile. "And then you came—we must be so in sync."

Bai Xiuming chuckled. "You're so sweet. Did you know the Bright Mirror Bureau Guard went to investigate the Lü family?"

A Chan blinked in genuine confusion. "Why would they investigate the Lü family?"

Seeing her genuine bewilderment, Bai Xiuming guided her back inside. While she lit candles, he unpacked the food box, setting out the dishes one by one, then opened the oil-paper package to reveal a whole roast chicken.

A Chan asked him again about the investigation, but Bai Xiuming seated her and handed her chopsticks. "Eat first."

"Alright then."

She took a few bites of the dishes but kept eyeing the roast chicken, looking back and forth between it and Bai Xiuming beside her.

Bai Xiuming tapped the table twice, and the chicken was instantly sliced by unseen blades—not only portioned into bite-sized pieces but even deboned.

Once he finished dividing it, A Chan picked up a piece and chewed, immediately wearing a blissful expression.

"This roast chicken is amazing. Where did you get it?"

"The cook at King Ming's palace made it. If you like it, visit me another time and have him make it for you."

"Wasn't he King Ming's cook?"

"Now he works for me. Want to come?"

"Sure."

At her answer, Bai Xiuming's eyes twinkled with amusement as he watched her eat.

Once she was mostly full, A Chan set down her chopsticks and went back to their earlier conversation: "You still haven't told me what they were investigating at the Lü family."

"What do you think?"

It wasn't hard to guess. A Chan frowned. "Boss Lü? But you saw her ghost—she couldn't have done anything."

Unlike before when she'd been evasive, she was now completely honest.

"She couldn't, but her ex-husband, Lord Liu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, his hair turned white overnight after her death. His Majesty heard rumors and sent me to investigate."

A Chan's focus wasn't on the investigation but on Liu Xiangze.

"White-haired overnight? Did someone drain his life force?"

The moment she said it, she realized why the Emperor had sent Bai Xiuming.

After all, Liu Xiangze's condition did seem very strange.

"So, why did he end up like that?" A Chan's eyes were full of curiosity.

She was certain it wasn't Boss Lü's doing—she had complete confidence in her skills.

Besides, when Liu Xiangze had come to ask about Boss Lü's whereabouts, everything had seemed normal.

"The Imperial Physician said it was due to overwhelming grief."

A Chan's mouth opened slightly: "Overwhelming grief?"

She didn't really understand the concept, having thought it was just something from stories.

"Was Lord Liu that devoted to Boss Lü? I never noticed before."

"Perhaps even he didn't realize it." Bai Xiuming had investigated the Liu family. Liu Xiangze was a very unusual case among officials—his personal life was remarkably proper.

Given his position, the Lü family couldn't interfere in his household affairs. Yet he chose to adopt rather than take concubines, which at least showed his love for his wife.

Lord Liu may never have considered what this choice signified, but his subconscious kept him faithful to his wife.

Unfortunately, in love, loyalty alone isn't enough.

A Chan moved her chair closer to Bai Xiuming. "So, do you know what happened to Lord Liu's adopted son? Did Lord Liu take his anger out on him?"

"Curious, aren't you?"

"A story deserves a proper ending." She nudged his arm. "Hurry up and tell me."

Bai Xiuming recounted the conclusion in a calm tone. "Lord Liu sent the adopted son back to his original family. They left the capital overnight and likely won’t have a chance to return."

The ending left her unsatisfied, but A Chan still sighed. Everyone in this tale lost out.

"If Lord Liu had believed Boss Lü’s words from the start and sent the boy away early, none of this would have happened."

Liu Xiangze had never trusted his wife, and Boss Lü, in turn, had never trusted Liu Xiangze. Each had chosen their path they believed was right and went their separate ways.

A Chan wondered—they clearly loved each other, so does affection wane with time?

"Bai Xiuming," she suddenly called his name.

"Hmm?"

"Even if we ever part ways someday, you have to keep loving me very, very much. Otherwise, I'll haunt you from beyond the grave."

Bai Xiuming chuckled. "That demanding, are we?"

"Yes, exactly that domineering." She stuck out her chin defiantly.

He reached out and pinched her cheek. "Fine, I’ll always love A Chan very, very much."

Only then did she beam. Bracing her hands on his thighs, she leaned in and kissed the corner of his lips as a reward.

The moment Bai Xiuming turned his head, A Chan immediately retreated warily—clearly, her last "in-depth experience" hadn’t been to her liking.

Her "rules for thee but not for me" attitude drew a soft scoff from Bai Xiuming, though he resisted the urge to pull her back.

Perhaps sensing the threat in his gaze, A Chan quickly changed the subject once she settled back in her chair. She produced with pride the Yushan Incense Burner to him.

"Look, this was a gift from Boss Lü." She handed the burner on the table to Bai Xiuming.

He took it, studying it closely before asking, "Did the Lü family send this today?"

"Yes." Then, A Chan caught on to something amiss. "Wait—are you having me watched, or the Lü family?"

"The Lü family."

"Is there something wrong with them?"

"No, just standard procedure in case issues arise later." As he spoke, Bai Xiuming lifted the lid and inspected the interior.

A Chan leaned in too, pointing at the inner wall. "There’s a mark here, but it’s hard to see."

Bai Xiuming traced it with his fingers, then raised the burner.

Suddenly, a glow emerged from within, illuminating the interior. The entire burner shone like a small luminous sphere. As Bai Xiuming slowly turned it, A Chan saw a complex square pattern appear on the wall.

"Doesn’t look like the craftsman’s personal seal?" A Chan mused uncertainly.

Renowned master craftsmen often stamped their works, but this seemed more like a family emblem.

Bai Xiuming’s almond-shaped eyes narrowed slightly at the sight, as if recalling something.

A Chan watched him closely. "You recognize that symbol?"

"A family’s emblem." The glow faded, and the burner returned to normal.

Initially indifferent, Bai Xiuming now studied it intently.

After a long pause, he asked, "Is this burner made of Yushan stone?"

He wasn’t well-versed in burners, but he knew stones.

A Chan gave a nod. "Yes. Boss Lü acquired it last year and ended up giving it to me. The Lü family didn’t ask for it back."

"Valuable?"

"Incredibly valuable."

Bai Xiuming returned it to the table, studying it a while longer before speaking. "This emblem belongs to the Shang family—an ancient lineage of ghost handlers."

"What happened to them?"

"Over twenty years ago, the entire family was annihilated. Wiped from existence."

A Chan’s eyes widened slightly. "Who did it?"

"No one knows."

"What about their possessions?"

"Now that's a good question." Bai Xiuming leaned back. "The Shang family was built atop the Ghost Gate. After their annihilation, the gate was torn open, and their estate was razed to the ground. Everyone assumed everything was devoured by the gate. This burner is the only known relic of theirs."

A Chan immediately scooped it up and placed it in Bai Xiuming’s hands. "Lord Bai, if you advance in rank and wealth thanks to my burner, don’t forget who helped you."

"Of course." He accepted it, then added, "I’ll have men keeping watch nearby for the next few days."

Though some time had passed since the burner was sold, it was best to be cautious.

A Chan made no objection—she valued her life too much.

With this unexpected development, Bai Xiuming didn’t linger. He soon took his leave, taking the Yushan Incense Burner with him.

Once he was gone, A Chan remained at the table, passing her fingers through the candle flame without being burned.

After playing for a while, the flickering light played across her face.

Many coincidences in this world come unannounced.

The surname Shang wasn’t rare, but neither was it common.

Coincidentally, she had an old acquaintance from the Northern Wilderness with that name.

By her reckoning, the lunar new year period was ending. The third day of the third month was just over a month away.

That date was special—A Chan remembered it clearly. It was the birthday of the Northern Wilderness King's Consort's father.

This year marked his eightieth year.

Meaning, the Consort of the Northern Wilderness King would be journeying to the capital. Her Shang acquaintance would likely accompany her.

From Northern Wilderness to the capital—a journey spanning thousands of miles. That journey was perilous. A Chan remembered it vividly. On that path, she had shed tail after tail until, at last, she fled into the capital.

She could but hope they would make the journey safely.