“Mumu… it’s all my fault.” Chu Ning quickly caught up to Lu Zhidao and looked at her guiltily, though she still couldn’t read any emotion on Lu Zhidao’s face.
“It’s fine.”
“It won’t happen again.” Chu Ning’s head drooped in dejection.
Lu Zhidao stopped in her tracks and turned to look at her. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll think of a way.”
Lu Zhidao scanned the street as they walked. Before the sky turned completely dark, she found an inn and settled them in for the time being.
Chu Ning, however, remained uneasy. They only had eight hundred wen left. Staying at an inn cost money, and she had no idea how they would ever scrape together enough for the boat fare.
“Mumu, what’s your plan?”
Lu Zhidao was focused on polishing her sword. Hearing the question, she set down the cotton cloth and looked up. “It might not work.”
“Don’t do anything reckless… here, take this to a pawnshop.” Chu Ning spoke as she untied the jade pendant from her waist.
“Where did this come from?”
“My mother gave it to me during my coming-of-age ceremony.”
“No.” Lu Zhidao stood up, the sword sliding back into its scabbard with a sharp clack. In all her years, Lu Zhidao had never had anyone perform a ceremony for her. Seeing the jade, she felt it was something precious and rare. Moreover, since Chu Ning’s parents were no longer in this world, how could she let her pawn an heirloom?
Those who have never experienced “the daily warmth of a family reunion” often view such sentimental ties with even greater weight.
“Keep the jade safe.” Lu Zhidao turned toward the door, then remembered to look back and tell her, “I’m going out for a bit.”
“Where to?”
It wasn’t until deep into the night that Lu Zhidao pushed the door open and returned with light footsteps.
Chu Ning was leaning her head on the table, half-asleep while waiting for her. Seeing Lu Zhidao enter, she rubbed her eyes vigorously to wake herself up.
“Where did you go?”
Lu Zhidao did something rare: she let out a slight smile and made a “shushing” gesture.
Seeing the hint of pride in her expression, Chu Ning couldn’t help but smile foolishly as well, lowering her voice in coordination. “What is it?”
Lu Zhidao acted mysteriously as she pulled a handkerchief from her robe and placed it solemnly in Chu Ning’s hands. The four corners of the cloth were tied together, and whatever was inside felt heavy.
“Open it.”
“So mysterious…” Chu Ning glanced at Lu Zhidao, who tilted her chin to encourage her to open it.
Noticing that Lu Zhidao was unusually expressive tonight, Chu Ning’s mood lightened as she curiously untied the corners.
Inside were several silver ingots. Judging by the weight, there were at least a dozen taels. Chu Ning stared at them, stunned.
“Greedy for money,” Lu Zhidao teased silently in her heart.
Chu Ning was filled with immense admiration; every time they hit a dead end, this woman seemed to rescue them effortlessly. She asked with a smile, “Where did this come from?”
“I robbed it.” Seeing the shallow dimples in Chu Ning’s smile, Lu Zhidao felt a surge of triumph.
“Robbed it?” Chu Ning’s eyes widened in disbelief. She asked again to confirm, “Really?”
“Mm.”
“Then I don’t want it.” The smile vanished from Chu Ning’s face. She handed the silver and the handkerchief back to Lu Zhidao.
“Why?”
“I can’t use it.”
Lu Zhidao picked up the silver and inspected it, confirming it was real. “Why can’t you use it?”
“The source of this money is not righteous.”
It was as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over Lu Zhidao. All her pride was shattered by that single sentence. She looked down and silently put the silver away.
Feeling a surge of irritation, she walked over to the washstand without a word and splashed water on her face.
Chu Ning couldn’t bring herself to use stolen money, yet she knew Lu Zhidao meant well. Filled with a sense of melancholy, she stood in silence for a long time before walking over to Lu Zhidao and handing her a towel.
“Mumu, did you hurt anyone?”
“No.” Lu Zhidao took the towel.
“Give the money back,” Chu Ning urged.
“This is the boat fare.”
“I won’t use this silver regardless.”
Lu Zhidao dried her face and looked at Chu Ning. “As long as it gets us on the boat, it’s fine.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll pawn the jade pendant. It’ll be enough for the boat. Think of a way to return this money.”
Lu Zhidao straightened up and gave her a cold, flat look. Out of spite, she tossed the towel back into the basin and went straight to the bed, lying down with her clothes on. She kept the silver ingots clutched tightly in her arms.
Chu Ning had no choice but to follow. She sat on the edge of the bed and gave her a nudge.
Lu Zhidao turned her back to her.
“I really won’t use that money.”
“As long as the mission is completed, nothing else matters.”
Chu Ning forced the jade pendant into her hand. “Pawning the jade can complete the mission too.”
Lu Zhidao bolted upright and sat on the bed with a frosty face, thrusting the jade back. In her anger, she spoke without thinking: “Your mother is already dead, yet you want to pawn her things!”
The words were spoken carelessly but hit home. The sentence pierced Chu Ning’s heart. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.
Chu Ning looked down, her fingers repeatedly tracing the jade pendant. The candlelight cast a faint shadow across her face as a wave of bitterness rose within her.
“Going to sleep.” Lu Zhidao lay back down and pulled the quilt over her head.
She said she was sleeping, but she couldn’t. After a long time, she pulled the quilt down slightly, exposing only her eyes to peek at Chu Ning.
She saw that Chu Ning was still in the same position, tears falling uncontrollably. The girl silently raised a hand to wipe the tear tracks from her face before turning her head away.
Lu Zhidao realized she had said the wrong thing again. She panicked instantly.
She scrambled up on her hands and knees and knelt on the bed, leaning in toward Chu Ning, only to be pushed away by a hand.
Lu Zhidao dumped out the silver, shook out her handkerchief to clear the dust, and offered it silently.
“Dirty,” Chu Ning sniffled.
Lu Zhidao felt snubbed. She froze in place for a long time, not knowing what to do. Looking around, she spotted Chu Ning’s handkerchief on the washstand. She threw off the quilt and, without even putting on her boots, took three steps in two to grab it and bring it to her.
Only then did Chu Ning take the handkerchief. Lu Zhidao squatted down, looking up as Chu Ning used a corner of the cloth to wipe her eyes dry.
“Stop looking!”
Lu Zhidao hurriedly looked away. “I’m sorry.”
“I can’t bear to let go of it either,” Chu Ning said, her voice hitching as she gripped the jade.
“Mm!” Lu Zhidao nodded vigorously. “I was talking nonsense.”
“Let’s rest.” Chu Ning didn’t say if she had forgiven her.
Chu Ning kept her back turned all night. Lu Zhidao felt anxious; she wanted to roll over and check on her but hesitated endlessly. She lay awake until midnight, her back aching from staying still, not daring to move an inch.
It wasn’t until she heard the sound of steady breathing that Lu Zhidao grew bold. She propped herself up gingerly and leaned over to look. Seeing that Chu Ning’s eyelashes were still damp, she felt a profound sense of regret, cursing her own loose tongue.
Lu Zhidao held her breath and carefully reached out. Using two fingers, she gently squeezed the girl’s long lashes, roughly wiping away the traces of tears.
When she saw the eyelashes quiver unconsciously, Lu Zhidao retracted her hand like a lightning bolt. Her heart hammered against her ribs. With the guilt of a thief, she dove back under the covers.
She looked at the silver beside her and wondered what on earth to do. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit her. Feeling she had come up with a brilliant idea, she finally fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Lu Zhidao returned from her sword practice. Seeing that Chu Ning hadn’t woken up yet, she ordered the waiter to prepare a large table of fine food and wine to be served at noon.
After a long while, Chu Ning finally climbed out of bed, looking dazed. Her eyes were still puffy.
“Mumu…” Chu Ning called out hoarsely.
“I’m here!” Lu Zhidao stood up and hurried to the bedside.
“It’s my fault. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have had to go out and rob people.”
Lu Zhidao scratched her head, not daring to tell her that this wasn’t the first time she had done such a thing—she was quite practiced at it.
“I’ve thought about it. If you want to keep that silver, keep it; I won’t interfere. But I cannot use it. Otherwise, my parents’ spirits won’t be at peace. I’m going to pawn the jade. Someday, I will definitely redeem it.”
Chu Ning spoke with total sincerity. At this point, Lu Zhidao didn’t know how to respond; she simply felt the girl was making a mountain out of a molehill.
She dodged the issue, saying, “I’ll think about it.”
She wasn’t sure if she should apologize again, fearing that mentioning the parents would make her sad. She only said, “The jade is very precious.”
It wasn’t about the monetary value; it was a memento of her mother. If Lu Zhidao had such a token no matter what it was she would protect it like a supreme treasure.
Chu Ning, however, didn’t see it that way. She had never lacked for love; her mother’s teachings were already etched into her bones. There was no need to be obsessed with a physical object.
As they lingered, the waiter knocked and entered, filling the table with mouth-watering dishes.
Lu Zhidao recalled that last time, Chu Ning had said she wouldn’t eat “Little Grey,” yet in the end, she couldn’t resist and polished him off. So, she had specifically ordered a feast, thinking that maybe the girl would accept the situation once the food was in front of her. This was her “brilliant idea” from the night before.
But Chu Ning just watched coldly as the waiter laid out the dishes one by one, remaining unmoved.
Lu Zhidao tried her old trick. She sat down at the table and began eating with great relish.
“Aren’t you hungry?” Lu Zhidao picked up a piece of braised pork, put it in her bowl, and looked up.
Chu Ning swallowed hard. She turned away, picked up the Songs of Chu, and buried her head in the book.
Lu Zhidao didn’t give up. She tasted every dish, intentionally smacking her lips loudly.
The room was filled with the aroma of food, and the smacking sound echoed in Chu Ning’s ears. Her mind was a mess; she couldn’t read a single word.
“I’m going out for some air.” Chu Ning tossed the book aside, left that one sentence, and pushed the door open to leave.
Lu Zhidao was left alone at the table. She had only been eating for show; once the girl left, she lost her appetite entirely. She set down her chopsticks and sighed, wondering what to do next.
Worrying that Chu Ning might encounter trouble alone, she hurriedly followed her out.
Just outside the door, she saw Chu Ning in the lobby downstairs, talking to an old man in tattered clothes.
Lu Zhidao wasn’t in a hurry to go down. She leaned on the second floor railing and watched. After a brief exchange, Chu Ning led the old man to a vacant table, and the waiter brought over paper and ink.
The old man was saying something while Chu Ning occasionally looked up to communicate with him, then lowered her head to write.
After filling an entire page, Chu Ning gently blew the ink dry and handed the paper to the old man.
Lu Zhidao hadn’t intended to interfere, but then she saw the old man smiling and reaching into his robe to pull something out.
“Could it be a hidden weapon!” Lu Zhidao suddenly turned alert. Without a second thought, she vaulted over the railing and jumped down from the second floor.