Chapter 30 He regretted kneeling and kowtowing ninety-nine eighty-one steps, just to beg her…

The morning mist was thick, and the clouds were heavy and hazy.

Amidst the pain, consciousness gradually returned. Xu Congjing groggily opened his eyes and saw two blurry figures approaching. His left ear was filled with a buzzing sound, and he couldn't hear anything. All he could see were two mouths moving in front of him.

Wen Jie called him several times without response, then leaned closer and shouted twice, "Are you alright?"

He could barely hear clearly with his right ear turned to the side. Xu Congjing frowned and waved his hand, indicating that both ears were failing.

The doctor arrived and performed acupuncture. The pain gradually subsided, and the right ear basically recovered, but the left ear was still blurry.

"He has injured his brain, which has also affected his ears. Perhaps he is also troubled by inner demons. I will prescribe some calming and soothing remedies, but this will only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. If we can find and eliminate these demons, his condition should improve significantly." The doctor packed his medicine box and stepped out the door.

Wen Jie turned his head and saw Xu Congjing looking completely lost, leaning helplessly against the door. It goes without saying what inner demons are, but the person is no longer here, so how can they be eliminated? Thinking of Wan Qing'an, his heart suddenly ached, and he slid down and sat on the doorstep stone.

"Wanwan, Wanwan..." Xu Congjing murmured repeatedly, then suddenly looked up and asked, "Where is Wanwan?"

Wen Jie remained silent, heartbroken, but seeing Xu Congjing throw off the covers and get out of bed, running barefoot towards the door without a care, he quickly pulled him back.

Some things must be said, even if it's cruel: "She's dead. Xu Congjing, she's dead!" Xu Congjing was usually more opinionated than him, but he was a few years older and, after all, the elder brother.

Xu Congjing collapsed to the ground, his mind flashing back to countless images of flames engulfing the ship. He stared blankly at Yue Liangxiao, laughing until tears streamed down his face. Suddenly, a surge of anger rose within him. He got up and swept away all the vases, incense sticks, and other items. Then, he took out the hidden double fish pendant from his person, stared at it for a long time, and stepped out the door. But his vision blurred, and he lost his footing, tumbling down the platform.

Wen Jie watched from behind, not in a hurry to help him up, and watched as he punched the platform.

He eventually...regretted it.

But the person is gone, what good is regret now?

He needed to figure these things out for himself. He then quietly withdrew.

At night, under the pale moon and sparse stars, Xu Congjing struggled in a nightmare. Before him lay Lou Yanxu on the deck, her face covered in blood, desperately crying out, "Save me... Brother Zizheng, save me!"

The fourth watch gong struck, a sharp "clang" that felt like a blow to the forehead, jolting him awake. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and he remained dazed for a long time. In a daze, he changed his clothes, got out of bed, and walked to the high table. He opened the window in front of the table, took out a handkerchief, and unfolded it. It was the double fish pendant that Lou Yanxu had smashed at the inn.

He pieced together the jade pendant by moonlight. Rain drifted in through the window, wetting the back of his hands. He rubbed his hands together, searching left and right, but he just couldn't find the fish tail piece. Finally, a feeling of frustration welled up inside him, making it hard to breathe. He leaned against the back of the chair and endured the ordeal until dawn.

The dim morning light was dazzling. Xu Congjing moved and went out. The bustling street was filled with people chatting and making noise. One ear was dead silence and the other was clamor. It was so intense that he almost exploded.

He walked aimlessly, turning left and right, until he came to his senses and stopped. This was Lou Yunli's tomb, a place he had once resisted immensely, but now he had arrived there naturally.

Overwhelmed with mixed emotions, he stood there for three hours, his face, dull and lifeless, etched with sorrow. After a long while, he knelt down, his hands resting on the tombstone, a single tear mingling with the earth.

Lou Yanxu once said she would escort him to the grave to beg for forgiveness, and now, without her even lifting a finger, he's already here.

Remembering his beloved, he could no longer suppress his grief, and tears streamed down his face. He clearly loved her so much, how could it have come to this? How could it be! He raised his hand and slapped himself hard, crying so hard he could hardly breathe, his veins bulging, his voice hoarse and desperate.

Even though she cried herself to death at his grave, Lou Yanxu could never come back.

Around noon, Xu Congjing's eyes were vacant. He brushed the wet mud off his hands, stood up unsteadily, and took a shortcut back to his residence. When he passed the pear tree, he couldn't help but stop. He had once promised to respect her, love her, trust her, and marry her here. Now the flowers were in full bloom, but the beauty was gone. Countless thoughts flooded his mind, and two more tears streamed down his face.

Two women sat knee to knee under the tree, chatting intimately. One of them said, "My husband fell down half a month ago and almost died!"

"Then how come your husband is so lively and energetic now?" asked the woman with the silver hairpin in her hair.

“I was instructed by a master that Qingxin Temple outside the city is very effective! There are eighty-one steps in front of the gate. I knelt down and kowtowed to the top, offered incense to Buddha, and he recovered completely in less than two days.”

Xu Congjing listened intently with his right ear, secretly making a plan. Now that Wanwan's body was nowhere to be found, could he ensure her safety if he was sincere enough? Having made up his mind, he immediately bought incense and headed to Qingxin Temple.

The temple is located halfway up the mountain, with red walls and yellow tiles, solemn and dignified. Only a few people come here, all walking silently with sorrowful expressions, with only the sound of Buddhist chants and distant bell tolls.

Xu Congjing immediately knelt down on the bluestone slab with a "thud," supported himself with his hands on the ground and kowtowed heavily, then got up, crawled up the steps on his knees, kowtowed again, and repeated this process.

It was midday, the red sun high in the sky scorching the heavens and earth. The hot wind made the bronze bells on the eaves ring out, disturbing one's peace of mind. He was not yet fully recovered, and suddenly he was drenched in sweat. Blood trickled from his forehead, picking up bits of stone. His thighs and calves trembled and ached. Looking back, he realized he had only climbed thirty steps.

The scorching sun burned his back as if ants were gnawing at it. With only thirty steps left, he was already dizzy and swaying, almost falling back to the starting point to start over. A young monk bowed in Buddhist prayer and advised, "Your health is important, please proceed according to your ability."

Xu Congjing refused to listen. Even if he had to crawl, he would crawl up. He gritted his teeth and kept chanting "Wanwan, Wanwan." He knelt down and kowtowed with each word. When he reached the temple gate, he fell down heavily. In a daze, he saw Wanwan smiling at him, and only then did he close his eyes in satisfaction.

Perhaps his sincerity truly moved the gods and Buddhas, for Lou Yanxu suddenly moved her fingers after being unconscious for several days.

"Second Mistress? Second Mistress, you're awake!" Before she could even open her eyes, she heard Qingrui's joyful exclamation. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Qingrui standing by the bed, the sunlight streaming through the cracks warming her cheeks.

"Where is this?" After not speaking for a while, his voice became hoarse, and his face was still pale, but his knees no longer hurt, and his body felt comfortable.

The room was bright and spacious, with a delicate fragrance emanating from the mulberry wood display shelves, indicating that the family was undoubtedly wealthy and powerful. A woman peeked out from behind Qingrui and asked with a smile, "Madam Lou, do you still remember me?"

Lou Yan stared at him for a long time before murmuring, "You are... Lingbo Island..."

Indeed, it was the lady who was delivered by Granny Yu on Lingbo Island. She never expected to have the chance to meet her again, and it was Granny Yu who saved her.

“I was originally kidnapped by Feng Hong to be his wife, and my name was Chi Sheng. After Feng Hong was arrested, I was finally freed, but because I had lost my chastity, my family did not welcome me. So I took the lead of that gang of river bandits and settled in Qingyun Town outside Suzhou City, where I started a shipping business and occasionally transported goods for poor people to Southeast Asia.”

No wonder, no wonder she laughed heartily that night when she lost her child.

It's a strange world indeed. A woman is clearly injured and humiliated, barely managing to escape, yet she can't escape the gossip and the rejection of her family, ultimately leaving her to wander alone to a distant land. However, judging from the fact that Chi Sheng doesn't show any depression when she talks about it, but rather has a smile on her face, she must be quite content now.

Therefore, Lou Yanxu didn't say much. Thinking of Qing'an, she asked, "My friend..."

"Don't worry, she's not hurt and is perfectly fine."

She nodded, relieved. Her head throbbed with pain, and her memory of that day was hazy. "I only remember running through the fire, and how Madam Chi saved me?"

Seeing her face looking like a bitter gourd, Chi Sheng rubbed her temples. "When I met you, you were being carried to the shore by a bandit. Madam Wan and Qingrui were chasing after you. I was afraid he would do something to you, so I quickly rescued you and brought you back to Qingyun Town."

Lou Yanxu was utterly baffled. With flames erupting and everyone fleeing in panic, even a lone person couldn't escape; why bring along such a burden? Could it be lust at first sight? That would be incredibly reckless!

Thinking about it this way, it's full of contradictions, and she racked her brains but couldn't figure it out.

She decided to stop thinking about it and got out of bed to bow, saying, "Madam Chi's kindness and virtue are unforgettable..."

Chi Sheng wouldn't let her move, and swiftly pressed her down on the bed. "You saved my life back then, and today I'm just repaying that debt. We don't need to be so polite." Childbirth hemorrhage was extremely dangerous, and Feng Hong's control was extremely humiliating. Chi Sheng dared not recall those years. Fortunately, someone pulled her up, and fortunately, the journey was over.

There's no need to elaborate on the gratitude or affection; it's only natural for women to help each other. The two exchanged a smile.

Before she could speak again, the beaded curtain clattered, and Wan Qing'an entered, muttering, "That foreigner is babbling incoherently, I don't know what he's saying."

He was frowning when he saw Lou Yanxu wake up, and his face lit up with joy. "Yanxu, you're finally awake!"

Lou Yanxu's complexion had returned to normal, and she smiled and nodded, asking her, "What were you muttering to yourself just now?"

“There are several foreigners in the courtyard, gesturing and talking in a foreign language. I have no idea what they are trying to do.” Wan Qing’an didn’t understand a word and was puzzled. Seeing this, Chi Sheng continued, “They want to sell local specialties. I told them I wouldn’t buy, but they keep coming and coming and we can’t get rid of them.”

Given this situation, it must be because business is bad in China that they have been forced to come to Da Jin to make a living. This can't go on forever. Lou Yanxu thought for a moment and said, "I know a little bit of foreign languages. Why don't I go and meet him?"

Chi Sheng nodded in agreement. Lou Yanxu changed her clothes and washed up, and the group went together.

The foreigner, with a long, curly beard, was very tall. He spoke vividly for a long time, but the people in front of him were all confused and bewildered, so he paced around anxiously.

Lou Yanxu recognized that this was a Heling person. Heling was a small vassal state that the Great Jin had recovered this year, so their languages ​​were not very mutually intelligible. However, she had learned a lot of Heling language in books, so she could communicate with him to some extent.

She asked him in Khalinga what he wanted to sell, and the man was both surprised and delighted, putting down the basket on his back.

Upon closer inspection, they were a few pearls. The pearls were large, round, white, and smooth. At first glance, they seemed unremarkable, but when viewed from above, they revealed a dazzling array of colors, like shimmering sunset clouds. She had seen them before in He Ling's "Record of Strange Things," where they were called "neon pearls."

Many noble ladies in the capital adorn their hair with pearls, a trend that gradually spread from Chang'an. However, they all wear ordinary pearls, and she wondered if these neon pearls would win the favor of the nobility. After some deliberation, she realized that she couldn't keep living off the Lou family's wealth, so she decided to buy an ounce or two to make pearl hairpins and other ornaments, hoping to make some money in the process.

However, this item is quite rare even in Heling Kingdom, so the price is probably hard to negotiate. She originally intended to go to Jiaozhou, but since copper coins were inconvenient to carry, she only brought a few strings of cash and some gold. The Lou family mansion is now under Xu Congjing's watchful eye, so she dared not go back to retrieve them.

This business is no different from gambling. A pound of neon pearls costs six hundred strings of cash. If you can't break even after paying this amount, you'll be left with nothing.

Seeing her dilemma, Wan Qing'an thought long and hard before taking out a solid piece of gold and buying it without hesitation.

Lou Yan was surprised. Where did Wan Qing'an get the money in such a hurry to leave Chang'an? Besides, she didn't want Wan Qing'an to pay for it, but the other party didn't give her a chance to quickly reach a deal.

After He Lingren left, Lou Yanxu was filled with doubts, but Wan Qing'an kept avoiding her gaze, so she realized something was amiss.

After the meal, she pulled Wan Qing'an into the house.

"Where did you get this gold?" Wan Qing'an was not a stingy person. If it were really her money, she would have taken it out on the way back to Suzhou, instead of waiting until now.

Wan Qing'an stuck out her tongue, having long expected that she couldn't hide it from her, so she told her directly, "On the day my brother passed away, the heir of the Duke of Yingguo came to find me and gave me that gold, saying it was for you to use in an emergency. I knew you didn't want to accept his kindness, and you couldn't spend it on your own, so I always carried it with me. I only took it out when I saw that you really wanted to buy it."

"Why...why don't you return it to him?" Lou Yanxu's eyes widened. She thought about it carefully and never expected that it was given to her by Lu Hengzhi.

After she politely declined his request at Huiju Temple that day, the two never saw each other again. It wasn't worth his time and effort, and he was immediately troubled. He had not only accepted the gold but also spent it, so he was bound to owe her a favor.

But she didn't want to owe anyone anything; she only wanted to rely on herself, like Chi Sheng, to make a name for herself without depending on her husband.

“I returned it!” Wan Qing’an stood up straight to prove her “innocence.” “I returned it that very night! Who would have thought that he bribed my personal maid to secretly slip it into my bedding? The next day I was busy with my brother’s funeral and had no time to care for him. I hurriedly left the city and could only take it with me on the way.”

"I know I was wrong." She clasped her hands together, begging for forgiveness.

It was rare to see Wan Qing'an feigning a pitiful state, and Lou Yanxu couldn't help but burst out laughing. Ultimately, this matter stemmed from her unresolved relationship with Lu Hengzhi, so she couldn't blame anyone else.

After they talked it out, they looked at each other and smiled.

Wan Qing'an lay on the daybed, looking somewhat listless, and said languidly, "Young Master Lu is indeed a suitable husband, but his mother is no kind person. She is used to looking down on people, even worse than your former Aunt Jun. It's better that you didn't choose him."

"What are you thinking about!" Lou Yanxu poured herself a sip of hot tea and felt her stomach warm. "I don't even know where I'll go from here, so I have no heart to think about romance anymore."

“That’s true!” Wan Qing’an sighed, her voice muffled. “I may never return to Chang’an again.”

Unable to express their thoughts, both remained silent.

The next day, Lou Yanxu's complexion was even rosier, and she was clearly 80% more energetic. She disguised herself and checked herself in the mirror several times before going out. Xu Congjing was on a neighboring ship that day and should not be in any danger, but he was bound to be injured and stay in Suzhou, so she had to be careful to avoid him.

She used the pearls to make some hairpins and ornaments, and also bought several valuable paintings and calligraphy works. Together with Wan Qing'an, she visited the wife of the Prefect of Suzhou. The former Prefect Zhang Yuanwen was imprisoned for embezzlement, and the new Prefect Lü Xian took office. His wife, Zhong, was having her birthday banquet the next day. If she could make her shine at the banquet, she might be able to gain favor. More importantly, the guests at the banquet were all wealthy and powerful, which could be a way to sell her.

After presenting the visiting card, the gatekeeper invited them inside. They saw Madam Zhong sitting in a grand chair, with a cup of tea on the octagonal table. She gracefully picked up the cup with her slender, delicate hand, took a sip, wiped the remaining stains from the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief, and then leisurely looked up at them.

"Greetings, Madam."

Zhong narrowed her phoenix eyes and gave a soft snort, "What good stuff do you have? Let me see."

Lou Yan ordered her maid to present it, and in a short while, Zhong's slightly mocking face turned to joy. The Kingdom of Heling had only recently been recovered, and even nobles in Chang'an might not have seen such a rare pearl, let alone Zhong, a mere governor's wife.

However, she feigned composure, seemingly unconcerned about offering a discount first, saying, "This thing of yours is nothing special..."

The two remained impassive, thinking to themselves that this person was cunning but not very shrewd; the slight change in her expression had already betrayed her, and she was probably already dreaming of showing off at the banquet.

As expected, seeing that she couldn't hold back any longer, he glanced at her sideways and asked, "These, are they all gifts for me?"

Lou Yanxu didn't mince words and got straight to the point, "Madam, please feel free to wear it. I only hope that you can wear it at your birthday banquet tomorrow. If any lady asks about its origin, I hope you can tell me."

"You certainly know how to do business!" Madam Zhong sneered, her face filled with anger. "Using me to attract customers!"

Lou Yanxu smiled insincerely, "How is this taking advantage of you? It's because we two are relying on you, Madam! You are the most outstanding one in the whole of Suzhou!" Everyone loves to hear nice words, so she deliberately picked out some witty remarks that were completely unrelated to the topic, which made Madam Zhong very happy. So she stopped caring and didn't bother with it. The governor's wife had to be generous!

After leaving the governor's mansion, Wan Qing'an almost burst out laughing. In her entire life, whenever she went out, she only mentioned her identity as the daughter of the General of the Garrison, and people would flock to her. She had never bowed her head or lowered her head before.

Lou Yanxu teased her, "From now on, you'll probably have to live a hard life with me." In this world, how can the powerless not bow down for a meager living? She had traveled all over the country with her father when she was young, and had learned the two-faced nature of the powerful and wealthy. As long as you have a bottom line, you can't lose your backbone.

Wan Qing'an picked up the remaining pearl hairpin and pinned it in her hair, grinning as she said, "How can this be a hard life? We'll be rolling in money in the future!" This wasn't an exaggeration. The Lou family was incredibly wealthy, and she believed that Lou Yan could spot a business opportunity at a glance, and that Lou Yan would have a bright future.

"Yes, yes, thank you for your kind words."

The two laughed and joked as they took a shortcut out of the city, already dreaming of the good old days of spending money like water.

However, this was no easy task, and the first hurdle was encountered by the Zhong family.

However, Zhong Shi shone brightly at her birthday banquet! But human nature is insatiable, and when the wealthy merchants' wives came to ask her where she came from, she refused to say, only saying that she was there to do business.

The next day, the three of them talked for a long time, beating around the bush, until Lou Yanxu finally understood what she wanted. This person was not satisfied with just getting those beads and paintings; she deliberately wanted to interfere and buy all the remaining beads, openly trying to steal this good deal.

But even though she said she wanted to buy it, seven or eight servants in the mansion surrounded her, clearly abusing their power to oppress her. Anyone who dared to say no would be chased out with the door bolt, and they would be stomped on and spat on.

Wan Qing'an had never suffered such humiliation before. As usual, she took two kicks forward, ready to start a fight, but was stopped by Lou Yanxu.

A fight is a minor matter, but the Lou family's roots are still in Suzhou. They might become a thorn in the side of the governor's mansion, facing obstacles everywhere in the future. Moreover, Xu Congjing is still in Suzhou, with spies everywhere. This conflict would only provoke him. They are even more afraid that the general's mansion will discover Wan Qing'an's whereabouts. It's really not worth it.

So she threw away all the remaining jewelry, leaving only some easy-to-store, unprocessed natural neon pearls.

Even so, when the arrogant servant kicked her out of the house, he went even further and kicked her in the back of the knee. Lou Yanxu knelt on one knee, and the old wound slammed hard on the ground, numbing her entire body.

Unable to hit him, Wan Qing'an was furious and could only give him a good scolding, wishing she could get rid of that unscrupulous thief as soon as possible. She helped Lou Yanxu up and turned into the alley. Her indignation suddenly turned into dejection. "In the past, I relied on the General's Mansion to travel around. Now I don't know how much caution I have to put in, afraid that people will be dissatisfied in the slightest. I was so clever and thought that people were nice to me because of me, and for no other reason."

"It's alright, we can achieve great things on our own." Lou Yanxu was used to this and comforted her instead, "Zhong's actions are simply because the ladies love these neon pearls, and she wants to make a fortune for herself, which is enough to show that this path is feasible." Fortunately, she did not reveal the origin of the pearls.

However, money is a problem.

She pondered carefully, and made a considerable plan in her mind.

Back in Qingyun Town, Lou Yanxu's knees were already slightly red and swollen. While Qingrui was applying red oil, Lou Yanxu hesitated for a moment before bringing up the matter of borrowing money with Chi Sheng. "Madam Chi, I really shouldn't have brought this up with you, but I just can't think of a way to make money right now, so I have no choice but to borrow from you. I will definitely repay the principal with interest when the time comes."

Chi Sheng shook his head and smiled, "I don't care about that. How about I provide the money and you provide the labor? In the future, when you are rich and powerful, you can take care of me."

His smile was heartwarming, and he forgot all about the swelling and pain. "If I ever make something of myself, I will never forget my wife's great kindness!"

The two held hands, their smiles spreading across their faces.

Just as things were getting warmer on one side, a kicking sound came from outside: "I'll show you how to run! I'll show you how to run!"

Chi Sheng asked, "What happened?"

"The river pirate was trying to escape, but I caught him!"

Upon hearing this, she explained to Lou Yanxu, "It was the water bandits who carried you away."

It was him.

Lou Yanxu still harbored suspicions, so she suggested, "Why don't I go and see?" She wanted to see why he had taken her away when she was on the verge of death—was it to save her or to harm her?

After saying that, she lowered her skirt, put on her shoes and socks, and limped out. She saw the bandit sitting on the ground with his back to her, his hands tied behind his back, and a clump of wet black hair hanging on his shoulder, dampening his collar.

"Turn around and look up!"

He was forced to turn around to face her, but stubbornly refused to look up, almost burying his face in her chest.

Lou Yanxu was full of suspicion. As she walked up to him, she felt an inexplicable sense of closeness. She tried to tilt her head to look at his face, but he turned away and hid himself completely, which made her even more suspicious. She gritted her teeth and grabbed his face.

In an instant, she was almost unable to look away, her face paled, and she stood frozen, speechless.

The young man's face came into view, and a sudden, almost telepathic, sense of familiarity spread through her body. She stared at him intently, her hands trembling as she traced his brow bone, cheekbone, and jawline.

Wan Qing'an and the others looked at each other in bewilderment, then saw her raise her hand high and slap the person in front of her on the head, but in an instant she knelt down, hugged the young man and sobbed, tears streaming down her face.

Everyone looked at each other, dumbfounded. Who exactly was this person?

Author's Note: This person was mentioned earlier, guess who it is? [doge]