“Go get a hammer and smash it open. I don’t think this lock can be opened anymore.”
Instead of looking for a hammer, Xie Zhao grabbed the lock in one hand and gave it a hard tug.
Snap.
“There.”
Jiang He: “…”
He just… ripped it off?
Opening the chest, they indeed found several account books inside.
Looks like her intuition had been right.
“What are these?” Xie Zhao leaned over to take a look.
Jiang He placed the ledgers on the table and turned the oil lamp wick up to make the room brighter.
As she carefully flipped through them, she said, “These are Father’s account books. You know our family used to be merchants, right?”
“Mhm. I’ve heard.”
By the time he had arrived, the Jiang family was no longer in business.
Jiang He’s mother had already passed away, Jiang Father had fallen ill, and with only a young daughter left at home, there was no one capable of continuing the business.
Still, he knew they had once been merchants.
After reading for a while, Jiang He smiled.
“Look. This ledger records our business dealings with Boss Qian. This is the money he still owes our family. Once we recover it, we’ll have enough capital to start over.”
At the very least, it would be enough to cover their expenses for the next two years.
Taking the ledger from her, Xie Zhao glanced through it and was visibly surprised.
“Three hundred and eighty taels? That’s a lot. Why did Father never mention it?”
Jiang He thought about it for a moment.
Why hadn’t Jiang Father ever brought it up?
Probably because he knew just how difficult debt collection could be. He never intended to send two young people to collect the money, so he simply never told them.
Still, he’d kept the account books hidden here.
Since he’d been bedridden for over a year, he hadn’t been able to retrieve them himself.
“Maybe he forgot,” Jiang He replied casually.
“And there’s more.”
She quickly changed the subject, pulling out another ledger.
“This one records the money Boss Liu owes Father—eight hundred taels.”
She sighed.
“But I once overheard my parents talking about it. Boss Liu’s family moved away years ago, and no one knows where they went.”
“I’m afraid we’ll never be able to recover that debt.”
“That’s alright,” Xie Zhao said.
“Three hundred and eighty taels is already quite a lot.”
Jiang He nodded.
“Exactly. Once we get the money back, I’ll find a way to restart Father’s business.”
Xie Zhao looked surprised.
“You want to do business?”
“Of course. We have to make a living somehow. The little money you earn building houses is only enough to keep us from starving.”
His cheeks immediately reddened with embarrassment.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s all because your brother is useless.”
Jiang He smiled awkwardly.
It really wasn’t easy for someone like Xie Zhao—who had clearly been born into privilege—to humble himself over the necessities of daily life.
“Let’s go collect the debt.”
“Boss Qian lives in Liang City.”
She pointed to the ledger.
“See? This is his address.”
Xie Zhao frowned.
“That’s pretty far.”
“Yes.”
“My father found you while he was on his way to Liang City to collect this debt.”
“Maybe if we retrace that journey, it’ll help you remember who you really are.”
Hearing that, Xie Zhao’s expression grew distant.
The truth was…
He genuinely couldn’t remember who he was.
Fortunately, the physician had explained that the memory loss was caused by stagnant blood in his head.
As the blood clot gradually disappeared, his memories would eventually return.
Smiling faintly, Xie Zhao said,
“I’ll remember sooner or later.”
“I’m too lazy to go chasing after clues.”
Jiang He: “…”
He had to be the calmest amnesiac she’d ever seen.
“If I lost my memory,” she said, “I’d definitely try to recover it.”
“It can’t feel good to have a blank past.”
She was secretly hoping he’d become a little more proactive.
Maybe he’d regain his memories sooner.
But Xie Zhao didn’t see it that way.
He smiled and shook his head.
“If I were you, I’d search for my memories too.”
“But I’m not you.”
Jiang He’s heart skipped a beat.
Blinking, she asked,
“How are we different?”
Did he remember something?
Instead of answering, Xie Zhao lowered his head and pulled open his collar, exposing the firm muscles of his chest.
Jiang He instantly felt a headache coming on and hurriedly looked away.
His voice suddenly became much quieter.
“Look.”
“Don’t these knife wounds look like someone was trying to kill me?”
Oh…
So he was talking about his scars.
Jiang He nodded.
“Yes.”
“The doctor said if that wound had been even an inch deeper, you would’ve died on the spot.”
“You never would’ve lived long enough for my father to find you.”
“Exactly.”
He looked down at the countless scars covering his body.
“With injuries like these…”
“What kind of good person could I possibly be?”
“Maybe I’m just some bandit from a mountain stronghold.”
Jiang He: “…”
Huh?
Couldn’t you come up with something better?
“Why a bandit?”
“My father said the clothes you were wearing were made from fine brocade that only nobles could afford.”
“Maybe you’re royalty…”
“Or the son of some great aristocratic family.”
Xie Zhao gave her a speechless look before lightly flicking her forehead.
“I call you silly, and you never admit it.”
“The sons of noble families grow up pampered.”
“If danger comes, their servants risk their lives first.”
“When would they ever fight personally?”
He pointed at the scars on his body.
“Look at these knife wounds.”
“And these sword wounds.”
“Do you really think a young master from a noble family would have scars like these?”
There truly were scars all over his body.
Although they had long since healed, the discolored skin made them easy to see.
His upbringing…
Really was difficult to imagine.
“So…”
Xie Zhao concluded matter-of-factly,
“So there’s no way I’m from a noble family.”
“There’s an eighty percent chance I’m really just a bandit.”
He glanced down at himself again before adding,
“Maybe even a notorious one.”
“Those fancy clothes were probably stolen from some unlucky young master.”
Jiang He was completely dumbfounded by his train of thought.
“What about the jade pendant?”
“My father said that wasn’t something an ordinary person could own.”
Xie Zhao thought seriously for a moment before replying,
“Probably belonged to the poor fellow I robbed.”
“My name might not even be Xie Ziming.”
“Maybe that’s his name.”
Jiang He’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
The Imperial Grandson had somehow reasoned himself into being…
A mountain bandit.
No—
A notorious bandit.
He had managed to invent quite the “respectable” identity for himself.
She was utterly speechless.
Chuckling, Xie Zhao reached over and gently lifted her chin, closing her hanging mouth for her.
The corners of his eyes curved into a teasing smile as he returned to his usual carefree demeanor.
“What?”
“Scared silly?”
Jiang He nodded blankly.
“You just told me you’re a notorious bandit.”
“My family picked up a notorious bandit.”
“How could I not be scared?”
Xie Zhao laughed.
“Don’t worry.”
“Even if I really were a bandit…”
“I’d never hurt you.”
“Hmph.”
“That’s hard to say.”
“The only reason you wouldn’t hurt me now is because you’ve lost your memory.”
“If I really were a bandit…”
“I probably wasn’t one by choice.”
Jiang He looked at him in surprise.
“How do you know that?”
With smiling eyes, Xie Zhao looked at her meaningfully.
“Because even if someone loses their memory…”
“Their true nature doesn’t change.”
“I think I’m a fairly decent person.”
“So I was probably a good man.”
After all the ridiculous things he’d been saying, those words actually made some sense.
Jiang He had always felt that Xie Zhao was genuinely a good person.
Not because of his identity—
But because his moral compass was still intact.
“But have you ever considered…”
“What if?”
“What if you aren’t a bandit?”
“What if you really are the son of some great noble family?”
“If that’s the case…”
“Your family must be worried sick.”
“They’re probably searching everywhere for you.”
“What if?”
“That’s right.”
“What if?”
“How can you be so certain you’re a bandit?”
“What if you’re not?”
“What if…”
Xie Zhao paused for a moment.
Even then, he slowly shook his head.
“If that’s the case…”
“Then I have even more reason not to go looking.”