The cicadas outside were shrilling endlessly. Lu Xiao stared at the visible waves of heat rising off the ground and couldn’t help but long for the air conditioners and refrigerators of the modern world.
He hadn’t exactly lived a wealthy life before, but compared to this ancient, makeshift setting, his old life had been comfortable and luxurious. It had already been three days.
When this whole thing first happened, Lu Xiao had actually been excited. For a history enthusiast like him, traveling through time sounded like a dream come true. But that excitement quickly turned to frustration when he realized this wasn’t any era of history he recognized.
The first time he saw a rooster lay an egg, he knew it. This wasn’t time travel at all, he had crossed into an entirely different world. A strange, unfamiliar, and incomprehensible one.
Fortunately, his original body wasn’t some nameless vagrant with no status or income. He actually had a proper job, as a detective.
He even had a pair of dependable coworkers who, upon hearing about his so-called “memory loss,” had shown remarkable enthusiasm in explaining everything he’d supposedly forgotten.
Thanks to them, Lu Xiao had managed to get a decent grasp of his surroundings and situation.
Still, one thing puzzled him deeply: if he had only lost his memory, why had those two looked so relieved, almost happy, when they found out?
Could it be that they didn’t get along with him before? That didn’t make sense.
After three days of observation, note-taking, and carefully sorting through the original owner’s memories, Lu Xiao had grown fairly confident in his understanding of the two.
First, there was Li Xianguan, his sworn elder brother and childhood companion.
The original Lu Xiao had been an abandoned infant, left to die in swaddling clothes. It was Li Xianguan’s father, General Li, who found and took him in.
To Lu Xiao, the Li family had always been his closest and most trusted kin. Li Xianguan might not have been the most ambitious man under the heavens, but he was someone Lu Xiao deeply respected.
What outsiders didn’t know was that Li Xianguan was a craftsman at heart. He was obsessed with carpentry and the art of mechanism building, many of the ingenious contraptions sold on the black market were actually his work.
Then there was Chen Yue’er, daughter of the imperial physician Chen.
The Li and Chen families had once been bound by an arranged engagement, but after the Chen family’s downfall, the Lis went to great lengths to protect Miss Chen. In the end, the marriage never happened, but the two families’ bond remained.
Miss Chen had grown up in the Li household and inherited her father’s extraordinary medical skills.
In this world, men and women were not strictly divided by hierarchy. Despite her family’s disgrace, the emperor himself had made an exception and allowed Chen Yue’er to enter the Imperial Medical Institute.
The three of them, Lu Xiao, Li Xianguan, and Chen Yue’er, were hardly ordinary people. One had no true origins, another bore a family’s crime, and the last hid dangerous talents behind a mild smile. Yet because of the strange phenomena that had plagued the empire in recent years, the emperor had taken notice of them.
He had granted them titles, wealth, and privileges, not out of kindness, but because he wanted them to risk their lives uncovering the truth behind the inexplicable events sweeping the land.
Lu Xiao sighed inwardly. He understood well enough the ancient saying, “If the ruler demands your death, you cannot refuse.” But this emperor, in his view, was both foolish and paranoid.
A bit of morning fog, and he would treat it like a national calamity, ordering them to “observe the stars” or “pray to the heavens” as if that would solve anything.
Sometimes Lu Xiao suspected that their so-called “secret investigation bureau” existed purely for the emperor’s amusement, a troupe of clowns meant to dance whenever he grew bored.
Take tomorrow’s mission, for example.
Old Master Qian, a wealthy merchant who had fathered a daughter late in life, was hosting a grand banquet to celebrate her birthday. The emperor, for whatever reason, believed there was something suspicious about the event and insisted that Lu Xiao’s team go “investigate.”
To Lu Xiao, it was obvious, the emperor was just jealous. Jealous of Old Master Qian’s fortune and influence, and using them as an excuse to ruin the man’s celebration.
Still, what could he do? Since he had already crossed into this world, he had to adapt to its rules. No matter how absurd the task, a diligent worker never questioned his boss, especially when the pay was generous.
He turned over on the narrow bed, but the heat was suffocating. There was no hope of an afternoon nap. In the end, Lu Xiao decided he might as well find his colleagues and discuss tomorrow’s mission. If the emperor wasn’t pleased with their performance, he might just find himself fired from this world entirely.
“Brother Li!” Lu Xiao called out as he spotted Li Xianguan hurrying toward the door. “Why so rushed? Where are you off to?”
Li Xianguan paused, though his body was already halfway out the door, clearly in a hurry.
“Ah, Xiao, you came at the right time,” he said quickly. “The emperor has sent an urgent summons. We’re to go to the Mingzhu Institute in the palace. Yue’er is already there and has explained your condition to His Majesty. You can stay here today, go into town and find yourself something to eat.”
Before Lu Xiao could respond, Li Xianguan was already on horseback, disappearing in a cloud of dust and hoofbeats.
Lu Xiao could only sigh helplessly. So much for asking him questions or learning anything useful. Still, the mention of the town piqued his curiosity, he hadn’t had a proper look around since arriving in this world.
The streets bustled with people. With his tall frame and striking looks, Lu Xiao drew plenty of attention, especially from passing young women and lively aunties who whispered to one another as he passed.
He knew that, ideally, information gathering required subtlety. But subtlety had never been his strong suit. He preferred to mingle, to hear gossip from the people who actually lived and breathed this world. The ordinary chatter of the streets told him more than any official report ever could.
Spotting a small teahouse, Lu Xiao approached with a grin.
“Sister,” he said warmly to the shopkeeper, a woman whose hair was streaked with white. “The sun’s awfully fierce today. Might I take a seat in the shade and beg a cup of tea?”
The woman looked him over, clearly pleased by the “sister” address and by the polite young man’s good looks. But as soon as she realized he wasn’t planning to pay, her expression darkened. With an impatient wave of her hand, she shooed him away.
Lu Xiao left the teahouse, muttering under his breath. His first attempt had failed.
“Li Xianguan, you damn scoundrel,” he grumbled. “You send me out to find food and don’t even give me a single coin? Truly treating me like a beggar, aren’t you?”
“Oh my, isn’t this Young Master Lu from the Mingzhu Institute?”
Lu Xiao turned abruptly, startled by the familiar tone. Standing before him was an elderly matron, simply dressed but with an air of refinement that marked her as someone used to authority.
“Young Master Lu, have you come to the market to make purchases?” she asked with a kindly smile. Her manner was gentle, and though Lu Xiao remained cautious, her amiable face made him relax just a little.
He gave an easy laugh. “No, not at all. Today happens to be my rest day, so I came to town for a cup of tea. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring any money with me.”
The matter of his memory loss was not something the emperor wished to make public, so Lu Xiao could hardly mention it to a stranger. Especially not when that stranger might be connected to imperial property. Mingzhu Institute, after all, was directly under the emperor’s private command. Speaking carelessly about anything related to it could easily cost a man his head.
The old matron gave a faint chuckle and said, “You really are a man of many concerns, Young Master. So busy that you forget even the smallest things. Here, take this, buy yourself that tea. And please, when the time comes, I’ll have to trouble you to take good care of our young lady’s affairs.”
Though she spoke lightly, her hands drew out not a few copper coins but an entire handful of silver notes.
This wasn’t a casual offer, it was a bribe.
Lu Xiao blinked, staring at the gleaming notes. A bribe? What in the world did she want to bribe him for? He didn’t even know who her “young lady” was.
Still, his face carried its usual pleasant smile. “You are too generous, madam. Since I happen to be free today, why don’t we sit down together and discuss your young lady’s matter in detail?”
He had only said it out of politeness, intending to fish for some information, but the matron’s eyes lit up at once. Her smile blossomed like a peony in full bloom, and she hurriedly ushered him inside a nearby teahouse before he could change his mind.
The shopkeeper, who only moments ago had been all too eager to shoo him away, now looked at him with newfound respect, personally serving them a pot of the finest tea.
Meanwhile, the matron’s eyes practically glowed with expectation, as though she were about to swallow him whole if he didn’t agree to whatever she had planned.
Lu Xiao lifted his cup and smiled faintly. “So then, madam, regarding your young lady, what exactly is it that you wish me to do?”
He had no idea what this was about, but best to keep her talking until she revealed it herself.
The old matron looked around cautiously to make sure no one was eavesdropping. Only then did she sip her tea and say, in a trembling voice, “Our master has gone to great lengths for the sake of our young lady’s status. Please, I beg you, tell His Majesty that our young lady is indeed our young lady!”
Lu Xiao stared blankly at her.
What on earth did that even mean? “Our young lady is our young lady”? Was she playing riddles with him?
Was this “young lady” some sort of monster or national threat that required such secrecy? What was the emperor so obsessed about that even a random matron came begging him for help?
Lu Xiao wanted no part of this nonsense. Without Li Xianguan or Chen Yue’er around, he didn’t dare make any promises to anyone.
He imitated the old woman’s calm demeanor and took a slow sip of tea. “Let’s talk about it later. This matter sounds rather complicated.”
Ignoring her frantic pleas behind him, Lu Xiao stood up, bowed politely, and escaped from the private room as quickly as he could. On his way out, he told the shopkeeper, “Put the tea on Li Xianguan’s account, from the Mingzhu Institute.”
He had only meant to sneak a free cup of tea, but the conversation had turned far too dangerous. The information alone made his head spin. Let Li Xianguan pay for it, he owed him that much anyway.
By the time Lu Xiao wandered through the winding town streets and finally returned to the Mingzhu Institute, he was greeted by the sight of Li Xianguan kneeling in front of the shrine to the God of Wealth.
Judging by his expression, the bill had arrived before Lu Xiao did.
“Brother Lu,” came a soft voice from behind him, “would you care to explain why there’s suddenly such a large tea expense under Li Xianguan’s name?”
Lu Xiao froze. He turned stiffly to see Chen Yue’er standing behind him, her expression calm but her tone icy enough to chill the midsummer air. Li Xianguan dared not even breathe.
Lu Xiao’s scalp prickled as he accepted the ledger she held out. His eyes widened when he saw the figures, he nearly fainted. That old matron had truly gone all out, ordering premium pre-Qingming Longjing and using a tea set crafted by a renowned master.
And Mingzhu Institute didn’t even have money for proper meals. How many days would they have to survive on plain steamed buns to cover this debt?
Under the weight of both their stares, Lu Xiao sighed and confessed everything that had happened in town.
When he finished, Chen Yue’er took out her medicine gourd, uncorked it, and took a long, burning swig of wine before speaking again.
“Brother Lu just arrived and doesn’t know much about the Qian family’s affairs,” she said finally, her tone softening. “It was Li Xianguan’s fault for not explaining things properly. Don’t blame yourself.”
Even as she said that, she reached into the drawer, pulled out a silver note, and slapped it right onto Li Xianguan’s face. “Go settle the debt before I change my mind.”
She looked exhausted. After several sleepless days serving inside the palace, she was clearly at the end of her patience. Li Xianguan, pale and panicked, stumbled out of the room like a man escaping execution. Only after he was gone did Chen Yue’er seem to remember something.
“Forgive me, Brother Lu,” she said with a sigh. “The imperial concubine is about to give birth, and I’m the only female physician available in the palace. I may not be able to look after you in the coming days.”
She reached into the drawer again and pulled out some silver and a sealed envelope, placing them in his hands.
“Take this for now. At least have enough for tea. Mingzhu Institute isn’t rich, but we’re not beggars either.”
Her tone was firm, though the brief flicker of pain on her face betrayed how reluctant she was to part with even that small amount. Lu Xiao, however, was thick-skinned enough to accept it without hesitation.
“Oh, and one more thing,” Chen Yue’er said suddenly, meeting his eyes as she pressed the envelope into his palm. “This letter, you gave it to me five days ago. You said I was to return it to you exactly five days later.”
With that, she reached up and gently patted his head. She was much younger and smaller than him, yet the gesture didn’t feel awkward in the slightest.
“I haven’t read it,” she said softly. “Whatever happens, Brother Lu, remember that Xianguan and I are always here.”
Then she turned to give some instructions to the steward and hurried out, heading back to the palace to prepare for the royal delivery. As she left, she seemed to murmur something under her breath, but Lu Xiao couldn’t make it out. Something like “everything will be fine,” or perhaps “if it must be, then so be it.”
He didn’t understand what she meant, and he didn’t bother to think about it. All his focus was on the letter now resting in his hand.
Could it be that his so-called “transmigration” hid some deeper truth?
The steward soon brought in dinner, but Lu Xiao barely touched it. After forcing down a few bites, he hurried back to his room, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste.
“Slow down, young master! You’ll slip again!” the steward called after him, but Lu Xiao had already slammed the door shut.
He shut out the sounds of the world, threw himself onto the bed, and tore open the envelope with trembling hands. It took him several tries before he managed to pull out the thin sheet of paper inside. His palms were slick with sweat.
He unfolded it carefully and began to read.
“To Young Master Lu Xiao, in person, ”
The very first line made his pupils constrict. A sharp pain tore through his head. He fell forward, clutching the letter, curling up on the bed in agony.
“Why…” he gasped through clenched teeth. “Why…?”
✦ ✧ ✦
Nycreth
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
✦ END OF CHAPTER ✦ BEGIN COFFEE NEGOTIATIONS ✦
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
Next →
ChaptersChapter 1 · The beginning of the tragedyChapter 2 · Don’t forgetChapter 3 · Look at it directlyChapter 4 · Whom are you trying to seduce?Chapter 5 · TeaseChapter 6 · Sleeping in the same bedChapter 7 · Internal locksChapter 8 · Tampering The rules…Chapter 9 · Black LotusChapter 10 · FledglingChapter 11 · There are no horses in the stable.Chapter 12 · Water-oil separationChapter 13 · The cost of backtrackingChapter 14 · It got biggerChapter 15 · Was it a mouse?Chapter 16 · Too fieryChapter 17 · Administer medicineChapter 18 · Tracing the PearlChapter 19 · A KissChapter 20 · Ge, Kiss meChapter 21 · Ten Thousand Deaths Without RegretChapter 22 · Endless CorridorChapter 23 · CowardChapter 24 · GoodbyeChapter 25 · Back toChapter 26 · It’s is me, Not MeChapter 27 · VictimChapter 28 · Crossed CupsChapter 29 · IntuitionChapter 30 · ChangeChapter 31 · DifferentChapter 32 · ErrorChapter 33 · Mind Your Own BusinessChapter 34 · WanderingChapter 35 · EmbraceChapter 36 · LoveChapter 37 · UnrestrainedChapter 38 · Asking Over a DrinkChapter 39 · As BeforeChapter 40 · SatiatedChapter 41 · A Change in the WindsChapter 42 · A’SuChapter 43 · Welcoming the BrideChapter 44 · GossipChapter 45 · WeaknessChapter 46 · Wedding NightChapter 47 · Brother QingChapter 48 · FadingChapter 49 · Lying LowChapter 50 · CaressChapter 51 · OnceChapter 52 · The Hidden PassageChapter 53 · MotherChapter 54 · FlawlessChapter 55 · ProphecyChapter 56 · EtherealChapter 57 · DecipheringChapter 58 · The TrapChapter 59 · Stone StatueChapter 60 · ChessChapter 61 · AssassinsChapter 62 · The National Preceptor?Chapter 63 · Please return my belongings to me.Chapter 64 · I’m not that desperate.Chapter 65 · No wayChapter 66 · No turning backChapter 67 · I told you, get out of the wayChapter 68 · Still became a monsterChapter 69 · Let’s end thisChapter 70 · Why do you look so much like him?Chapter 71 · One wanted to kill, two stopped himChapter 72 · Unless, the people at Mingzhu Academy are keeping it from himChapter 73 · FraudChapter 74 · Don’t look back, Lu XiaoChapter 75 · It’s coldChapter 76 · Kill MeChapter 77 · We are even marriedChapter 78 · Gege… I Love YouChapter 79 · “It” had arrivedChapter 80 · Wake Up!Chapter 81 · How Nostalgic….Chapter 82 · You already Promised meChapter 83 · Their TerritoryChapter 84 · Jokes were JokesChapter 85 · What you dream was realChapter 86 · Did you cry?Chapter 87 · What’s wrong, young Master?Chapter 88 · No, I only ever said it to youChapter 89 · Honey, Please let me go.Chapter 90 · What are you pretending to be, a gentleman?Chapter 91 · It’s just a shoddy trick to fool people, but I like it anywayChapter 92 · Ge, I did it voluntarily, it’s no useChapter 93 · You little BratChapter 94 · Gege~ please have mercyChapter 95 · Hearing Lu Xiao come in, he patted the seat next to himChapter 96 · Stop fooling around, let me kiss youChapter 97 · “I want…” “Want what?”Chapter 98 · Gege, watch closely how I get youChapter 99 · Little Eleven, how about we talk to ‘it’ first?Chapter 100 · Had it gone mad?Chapter 101 · I will make my decisionChapter 102 · Tsk, how indecentChapter 103 · You are the creator of my original worldChapter 104 · The world is not your toy, go back to where you came fromChapter 105 · He was a boy with snow-white hair and a handsome faceChapter 106 · Haven’t seen you for a long timeChapter 107 · TYRBL Extra: 1Chapter 108 · TYRBL Extra: 2Chapter 109 · TYRBL Extra: 3Chapter 110 · TYRBL Extra: 4