Chapter 15: Return

Chapter 15: The Return

◎Who taught you to spend money so lavishly on others?◎

After seeing off Manager Qiu, Li Ci eagerly awaited Brother Xie Zheng's return gift. But as the sun set, he still hadn't appeared.

Xiuchun advised, "Perhaps something urgent came up. Miss, why don't you have your meal first? Don't let yourself go hungry."

Eating was paramount, so Li Ci nodded and instructed, "Tonight, I'd like braised chicken with shark fin."

Because Li Ci frequently needed herbal medicine and had dietary restrictions, Jiahe Court had its own small kitchen. The monthly allowance she received from the Earl of Guangcheng's residence was barely enough to maintain it. All ingredient purchases had to be charged to the Li family's shops.

Spending money had its perks—aside from Doctor Xue's prescribed restrictions, Li Ci could essentially eat whatever she desired.

Xiuchun looked troubled. "Miss, the person who went shopping for the small kitchen today said you'd already spent all your money yesterday. We won't be able to charge anything to the shops this month."

Only then did Li Ci grasp the severe consequences of her extravagant spending. She hung her head, her voice dejected. "Then never mind. Let's just eat whatever's available."

Fortunately, the small kitchen's chef was highly skilled, managing to conjure three dishes and a soup from the limited ingredients and Li Ci's restricted diet, thus assembling the evening meal.

Li Ci sat patiently in the dining room. But before the meal was served, an announcement came from outside: "Miss, Master Xie is here."

Hearing the somewhat heavy footsteps beyond the door, she immediately sprang from her chair and bounded out to greet him. "Brother Xie Zheng, why are you back so late today? Did you see the gift I gave you?"

A tall, upright figure strode in briskly. Xie Zhenchuan looked weary, even more so than on his first day in Yingtian.

"Thanks to you," he replied with a strained smile, "carrying such 'heavy' items indeed made it quite difficult to move."

Only after he finished speaking did Nan Xuan squeeze in through the courtyard gate, gasping for breath. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and used his last bit of strength to set down the bundle he was carrying.

Xie Zhenchuan took the bundle and placed it on the table firmly but carefully. "Returned to its owner. You'd best check it."

…Only then did Li Ci realize her good intentions had backfired. She couldn't even lift the inkstone herself—had these two really carried such heavy items all the way down from Mount Xiaochuan on foot?

Too embarrassed to look at the pile of gold, she raised her head and asked hesitantly, "Brother Xie Zheng, you didn't like it?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Nan Xuan's backache and heavy breathing instantly vanished. He held his breath and hid with Xiuchun in the shadows of the corner, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

Those clear, beautiful eyes stared fixedly at him, though her slender, pale fingers were twisted together, betraying her inner anticipation.

Xie Zhenchuan was blunt. "Flashy but impractical."

Li Ci's eyelashes quickly lowered, fluttering lightly like the wings of a dark bird skimming the water's surface, sending ripples spreading outward.

Her head bowed, it seemed as though the water's surface was about to rain the next second.

Xie Zhenchuan paused for a moment before reluctantly adding, "It's not suitable for me, and it's too valuable. You should take it back."

Hearing this, Nan Xuan began breathing quietly again, wondering if the young master still remembered that he had come here tonight to "get to the bottom of it."

Xie Zhenchuan seemed to have truly forgotten. He merely opened the four gold-lacquered sandalwood boxes one by one to show that the contents were completely untouched—returned intact.

Li Ci didn't even glance at them, persistently pressing on. "Then what kind of gift does Brother Xie Zheng like?"

Xie Zhenchuan naturally wouldn't give her the opportunity to win him over with gifts. "Nothing at all."

Avoiding the question and certain that Li Ci wouldn't lie, he adopted the tone of an elder brother instructing a younger sister, guiding her patiently. "This set of the four treasures of the study must have cost a fortune. Who gave you the money, and who taught you to spend so lavishly on others?"

"It's my own money, my own idea," Li Ci honestly confessed, then tried to justify herself. "But Brother Xie Zheng isn't just anyone else."

Her voice was sweet and her tone frank, as she boldly stated it outright.

Xie Zhenchuan's breath hitched slightly. Without delving deeper, he calmly said, "Wealth should not be flaunted. You mustn't do this again in the future."

"Oh," Li Ci mumbled, pursing her lips and muttering under her breath, "I spent all my money on this gift, yet I didn't even get a chance, and I can't bring up that matter either."

Her voice was too soft. Xie Zhenchuan only caught the phrase "I spent all my money," but he could tell she was utterly dejected.

He was certain Li Ci wasn't capable of such sophisticated acting. Though the situation was somewhat absurd, if it was her doing, he found it unsurprising.

A deeper amusement flickered in Xie Zhenchuan's eyes as he teased, "Ah Ci should keep her money. If I didn't return it to you, wouldn't you be eating pickles next month?"

That struck a nerve. Li Ci reflexively retorted, "That won't happen."

This month, though, was uncertain.

She began seriously considering what to do if she really had to eat pickles. Would Doctor Xue even allow her to have osmanthus honey melon or sweet-preserved peanuts?

Li Ci's cheeks slowly flushed, but she stubbornly insisted, "It won't happen. I have money. I eat eight dishes in one evening."

As if responding to her words, the small kitchen chose that moment to deliver the evening meal.

A dish of dried silverfish, a dish of silver sprouts, a dish of eight-treasure tofu, and a dish of lotus root and pork bone soup. The number of dishes was only half of "eight," and each portion was small, served in enamel-glazed gilded floral bowls, looking rather meager.

Xie Zhenchuan raised an eyebrow slightly, confirming that her earlier statement about "spending all her money" wasn't an exaggeration. The curve of his lips deepened.

He said leisurely, "I was in a hurry today and haven't had time to eat. If it's convenient, may I stay and have a simple meal with Ah Ci?"

"Oh… alright," Li Ci replied dryly.

While she was still frowning over how to save face, Xiuchun perceptively announced loudly, "This servant will go to the small kitchen to hurry the dishes."

Well said!

Li Ci gave her an approving look, then unnecessarily added, "Just make something simple. It doesn't have to adhere to dietary restrictions."

This statement already revealed the truth, though Li Ci remained oblivious, sitting up straight and confidently placing a small silverfish into her bowl.

She had already been reduced to eating dried silverfish.

Xie Zhenchuan glanced at the food on the table and, unusually kind-hearted, refrained from taking her dishes, instead reaching for a spoonful of the lotus root and pork bone soup.

The small kitchen also came through, quickly stir-frying a few dishes using the remaining ingredients—things Li Ci couldn't eat or didn't like—and promptly serving them.

While eating seriously, Li Ci stole a glance at Xie Zhenchuan. He didn't seem interested in the earlier dishes, only helping himself to the ones served later.

Though his family had fallen on hard times, his table manners remained elegant. His slender fingers held jade chopsticks with light, precise movements. Whether sipping soup or eating, he didn't make a single sound from start to finish.

After the meal, Xie Zhenchuan stood up to bid farewell to Li Ci and returned to his Fangze Court.

Bei Ming was pacing excitedly in the study with a thick stack of case files. Seeing his superior return, he immediately boasted, "Sir, there's major progress in this case."

After a hard day, Nan Xuan could hardly bear to hear the word "heavy" and nearly collapsed on the spot.

Xie Zhenchuan didn't speak either, merely waving his hand to indicate he needed to bathe and change.

The two waited outside the bathing room. Bei Ming quietly asked, "What's wrong with the sir?"

Nan Xuan, having regained some energy, sighed. "Today, I truly saw an eye-opener. That cousin, Li Ci, gave the young master a grand gift—a set of the four treasures of the study made of pure gold!"

He spoke while gesturing with his hands, shaping various forms: "...over three hundred pounds of gold. The Heir and I carried it all the way down from Xiaochuan Mountain. To maintain appearances, we didn't even rent a donkey cart—it absolutely wiped me out."

Bei Ming was skeptical. "During regular training, you can't even carry a fifty-pound load. How did you manage it today?"

"You don't understand," Nan Xuan said, his face animated with excitement. "That solid gold inkstone was enormous, with a cat's eye gemstone bigger than my finger, gleaming green and reflecting golden light—it was stunning. Even if it were five hundred pounds, I'd have carried it back for the Heir!"

Bei Ming truly didn't understand, which made him all the more alert. He grew cautious and said, "I still think this cousin has ulterior motives. Can we really accept this?"

Recalling the dazzling golden light, Nan Xuan felt slightly dazed. "Why not? She doesn't know our Heir's real identity."

The sound of water in the bathroom had stopped.

Nan Xuan immediately regained his composure and said seriously, "Naturally, the Heir remained unmoved and returned it honorably."

Xie Zhenchuan had finished bathing and changing. As he fastened his outer robe, he said, "Go on, what's the progress?"

"Regarding that imperial examinee Zhu Xiujin you mentioned last time, we investigated through his connections and have gathered information on over thirty fellow scholars from the same examination year. Most are sons of Huaiyang officials or wealthy merchants. However, all their academic records from the official academy have disappeared. When we asked the instructors or classmates, they didn't dare to speak."

"No need to pressure them. First, find a way to discreetly investigate the accounts of the Huai'an Salt Transport Branch," Xie Zhenchuan pondered for a moment before adding, "I've heard that the Marquis of Jingde's estate is hosting a flower appreciation banquet soon. Is Zhu Xiujin on the guest list?"

"How did you know, sir?" Bei Ming looked surprised. "It's true. Zhu Xiujin visited three silk fabric stores today to have a suit made for the banquet."

"How convenient," Xie Zhenchuan said, a meaningful smile appearing on his face. "Because I'm going too."

"Yesterday, Zhou Zeshan met me at Lianquan Academy and invited me to attend the flower appreciation banquet with the household of the Earl of Guangcheng. He said since I've just arrived, I should get out more and meet like-minded friends."

Bei Ming couldn't help but feel puzzled. "Could it be that Zhu Xiujin is just bait? Does the Heir suspect the Earl of Guangcheng?"

Recalling Zhou Zeshan's earlier invitation for him to study at Lianquan Academy, Xie Zhenchuan didn't seem concerned. "The sage judges deeds, not thoughts. Regardless of his stance, at least the current clues are solid."

He skimmed through the documents Bei Ming had brought, memorizing a few key names, then turned toward the bedroom. "If there's nothing else, you may withdraw."

It was the first time Nan Xuan had seen the Heir going to bed so early—clearly, he was exhausted from the day.

He quickly followed, assisting the Heir as he prepared for bed, and said, "By the way, sir, there's one more trivial matter. I visited Jixian Bookstore today, and the shopkeeper informed me that your painting has already been sold."

"So quickly?" Xie Zhenchuan was surprised. "How much did it sell for?"

"Fifty copper coins," Nan Xuan said, noticing the Heir's expressionless face and hurriedly adding, "The shopkeeper also said your painting was exceptionally well done. This is just the first one—if you keep painting, the price will naturally rise."

Xie Zhenchuan knew a bit about the commercial art market and understood the shopkeeper was telling the truth. He wasn't concerned about the price and simply nodded to indicate he'd heard.

It had sold in just half a day. Though the price was a bit low, it was surprisingly easy.

He reached out to extinguish the candle on the table, and a strange thought suddenly crossed his mind: Could this have something to do with Li Ci again?

Author's Note:

Mini Theater:

Nan Xuan (gesturing excitedly): The Heir's wife is so wealthy—she gave him a dragon-and-phoenix golden pen. Have you ever seen one?

Bei Ming (pressing his hand down, lowering his voice): This... isn't this against protocol?

Nan Xuan (arguing vehemently): What do you know? When it comes to betrothal gifts, can it really be called against protocol?