The innkeeper's hospitality almost overwhelmed Li Xi and her companions, who quickly returned to their rooms for a nap. The innkeeper instructed the kitchen to prepare several pots of hot water so the guests could enjoy a bath after waking, followed by a delicious meal. He was confident the guests would feel right at home. The innkeeper, pleased with his guests' attentive service, felt a surge of joy…
Li Xi was unaware of the innkeeper's thoughts. She was already in a deep sleep, the outside noise temporarily irrelevant to her. She slept until 3 PM, feeling incredibly refreshed upon waking, her depleted internal energy restored. Upon arriving at the guest room, she found Meng Zhelan and the others already there. They invited her to sit down, saying, "Xi'er, come sit down quickly. We just sat down, and the innkeeper has already arranged for the dishes to be served. He was just about to call you." Meng Zhelan pulled Li Xi over.
Before long, eight dishes and a soup were laid out on the table. The cuisine of Kyoto was clearly different, with delicacies from land and sea filling the table. Actually, Li Xi was overthinking it. Normally, this meal would cost at least a hundred taels of silver. The innkeeper had served the most expensive dishes, and since the host had arranged to treat them well, they had to be treated to the highest standards.
Without any hesitation, everyone started eating. Li Xi and Tian Tian ate at a speed that most people couldn't match. Just as they were really enjoying their meal, Shen Xu arrived. Why do I always run into this conspicuous guy at mealtimes?
Li Xi stood up and cupped his hands in greeting: "Young Master Shen." Shen Xu replied, "Young Master Li, I'm sorry to have disturbed your meal." "No, no, Young Master Shen, have you eaten yet? Why don't you sit down and have a meal with us?" "Thank you, Young Master Li. I just came from home. I have something to discuss with you. You eat first, and I'll have some tea over there."
After Shen Xu finished speaking, he asked the shopkeeper to bring out a pot of tea and pastries. He sat there quietly, sipping his tea slowly and deliberately, looking serene and content.
Li Xi didn't bother him anymore, but her eating became less boisterous, a little more refined. After Shen Xu finished a cup of tea, Li Xi and the others had also eaten their fill. After clearing away the dishes, the waiter brought out another cup of tea and some pastries. Li Xi then invited Shen Xu to sit down, saying, "Young Master Li, my father asked me to invite you all to my humble abode as a token of our gratitude." "Young Master Shen, you're too kind. It was just a small favor. You've already provided enough for our lodging and meals; there's no need for further thanks." "Young Master Li, your life-saving grace to my sister cannot be repaid with such a small act." "Young Master Shen, actually, I have some private matters to attend to in the capital. I'll visit your home properly after I've finished my business."
The two chatted for a while, and finally decided that Shen Xu would accompany them to look for a house in a few days, and then send out invitations to invite them to visit once they were settled. Shen Xu told the shopkeeper to take good care of Li Xi and the others in the coming days, and then he left.
Li Xi breathed a sigh of relief. Didn't this conspicuous guy get tired of talking? He kept going on and on, almost preventing her from getting a word in edgewise. Li Xi was now planning to go to the original owner's house to see what was going on; it wouldn't be appropriate to let him come along.
The group drove the carriage to Nanyang Street. The original owner's house was nearby. They parked the carriage at the door, and Li Xi pretended to be returning home from a long trip. She knocked on the door, and soon someone opened it. It was an old man she didn't recognize. She went straight in, but the old man stopped her. "Young man, where are you from? Why are you just walking in?" "Grandpa, this is my house. Why do you think I should go in? I just came back from a long trip. Does nobody recognize me?"
Li Xi noticed that none of the servants who approached were the original owner's. The old man said, "You must be Young Master Li. How come you didn't know your brother sold the house? My master just bought it not long ago." "What? My brother sold it? When did that happen?" "Just three months ago, your brother sold it to my master for five thousand taels..."
Li Xi and the others rushed to Luyang Academy and explained their purpose to the gatekeeper. Soon after, a young man in a green robe ran out. Although the weather was cold, he must have been running too fast, because his forehead was covered in sweat.
"Sister, is it really you? You're finally back. Uncle Zhao said you were knocked off a cliff by robbers and you're gone. Waaah, I don't believe you're gone like this. Waaah," the boy cried, unable to speak, and choked out, "I knew you wouldn't die. You really came back. I've been waiting for you for so long."
Li Xi hadn't felt anything for her younger brother before. Although she had entered the original owner's body, she hadn't had any contact with him, so naturally, she felt nothing. Now, seeing her brother crying so hard he couldn't breathe, she couldn't help but burst into tears. Perhaps it was the original owner's reluctance to part with him. She stepped forward and hugged the boy, choking back sobs as she said, "I'm sorry I came back late." She hadn't even thought to send him a message at the time.
The group found a teahouse nearby and sat down to talk in detail. "Sister, you and Uncle Zhao went out to trade for several months. Only Uncle Zhao came back. He said that he was robbed by bandits. All the goods were stolen, and you were knocked off a cliff by the bandits and could not be found. He managed to escape but could not find you. Later, he returned to the capital. Because the goods were all gone and he could not deliver them, he owed a lot of money. I sold everything I could at home, including the house, to pay off the debts. I also dismissed the servants at home. Uncle Zhao said he was going back to his hometown. Only Li Wen refused to leave, so I rented a house for him near the academy. I knew you would come back to find me."
Li Xi was furious. "It was that Uncle Zhao who stabbed me, applied medicine to me, and pushed me off a cliff. His men also stole the goods. For so many years, our family has been raising a wolf in sheep's clothing. He's been lurking around us, all for the token in my parents' possession. He hasn't succeeded in getting it all these years, so he plotted against me, taking advantage of my trust in him to stab me in the back. He has people behind him. Luckily, Sister Meng saved me." She introduced the group to the boy.
The boy, Li Yi, bowed gratefully to Meng Zhelan, saying, "Thank you so much, Sister Meng. Without you, my brother and I would probably be separated forever." He added angrily, "It's all that damned jackal's fault!" Everyone fell silent for a moment. After a brief silence, Li Xi spoke up: "Money can be earned back. Xiao Yi, focus on your studies. I'll take care of everything else." Li Xi tried to give him one hundred taels of silver, but Li Yi refused to accept it. "Sister, keep it. I still have some. I can earn more. I can copy books at the library, or write letters for people. I can earn money in all of those ways."
Li Xi stuffed it into his hand, "Take it, I used to manage our family business, this is what I earned, so don't worry." Li Yi had no choice but to accept it, "Sis, where are you living now? I rented a small courtyard that people can stay in, come and live with me."
Li Xi waved her hand, "No need, my sisters and I will find a house for you later. You're staying at the inn now, but we'll bring you over once we buy a house." Li Yi smiled and said, "Okay." He always listened to his sister. The two chatted for a while longer. After she told Li Yi to go back to the academy, she promised to visit him whenever she had time. Only then did Li Yi reluctantly leave.
Li Xi and the others returned to the inn; it was already dark. After dinner, they went back to their rooms for a bath, which they all enjoyed after a long time. After bathing, they gathered together to discuss renting a house to start a business.
Li Xi spoke first: "Tomorrow we'll wander around Kyoto and see what kind of business we can do. We could rent a house with a shop attached, that would be easier to manage." Meng Zhelan agreed: "That's certainly feasible. My father's whereabouts are unknown. We only know he was captured and brought to Kyoto, but we don't know exactly where. All I know is that we left Kyoto back then not only because we offended powerful people, but also because we didn't want to be on that person's side. That's why he led us to escape Kyoto. Now, the only one who could track my father down from so far away and capture him is that person. Unfortunately, I don't know where that person is. He's been lurking in the shadows."
Ling'er: "Then opening a shop will also help us hide our identities. From now on, when we're out in the world, we'll be known as older sister and younger brother doing business in Kyoto." Sun Tiantian nodded in agreement. She didn't know what to say, nor did she understand business, so she could only nod after each person finished speaking.
When the topic turned to Shen Xu, Meng Zhelan said, "Judging from his clear eyes and proper demeanor, this young master Shen must come from a prominent family and be of good character. We can get along with him appropriately in the future, without having to keep him at arm's length."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com