Chapter 45: After drifting for so long, let's consider our grudges settled.
Ning Lu looked suspiciously at the unusually shaped iron piece in the box, then slowly looked up at the old man.
The old man sat down, poured her a glass of water, and said with emotion, "You said you would come to pick it up in half a month at most, but I waited and waited and waited and you didn't come. I didn't think it was a big deal, we've known each other for many years, and I've always been here. You can just come back and pick it up whenever you want."
"However, troubles have been happening one after another in Changzhou lately. My son and daughter-in-law are worried about me in the capital and want to bring me to live with them."
The old man took off his hat and scratched his head, a hint of melancholy in his voice: "Otherwise, I wouldn't be willing to give up this shop that I've had for decades."
Ning Lu followed his gaze and looked around.
It's more like a family workshop than a shop.
In front were various kinds of stones, wood and scattered ironware, and in the back was a wooden bed that was almost falling apart.
She didn't know what Changzhou was like before, but this winter could truly be described as unpredictable and turbulent. No wonder the people were fleeing.
Ning Lu pretended to be naive and offered him a few words of comfort with a smile, then her gaze fell on the jade on the wooden shelf.
She leaned closer and reached out to touch it.
It feels just like the one she pawned.
She paused for a moment, then a bold guess popped into her mind.
"Uncle, looking back over the years, I've troubled you quite a bit, haven't I?"
"What trouble are you talking about, girl?" The old man quickly waved his hand, "If it weren't for your help back then, Lord Pan would have taken over my shop. This is all the skill I have, who else would I help if not you?"
"Lord Pan?"
It's him again.
"Yes, back then I was not young either, and I was not as composed as a young girl like you."
The old man smiled sheepishly, “Everyone in the surrounding villages knows I make a living with my craftsmanship. I have a good eye; I can make a replica that's about 90% accurate. Remember that year, the fine jade Buddha in Governor Pan's mansion went missing for a few days? The officials searched for half a month, only to return with a fake. Governor Pan accused me of it. He wanted to arrest me, imprison me, and confiscate my shop…”
"I was so angry back then that I actually thought about killing myself. You little brat, you were starving and skin and bones, and you were still telling me to live well. You said you had a way."
At this point, the old man sighed, lost in those memories, and chuckled softly.
"The next day, Governor Pan's backyard caught fire, and while everyone was putting out the fire, they actually found a real jade Buddha. You really are a miracle worker."
Seeing the old man's simple and honest smile, Ning Lu smiled back.
Suddenly, I felt like I was a little closer to the original owner of this body.
She ran her fingertips along the jade patterns on her palm, her eyes darkening slightly before she brought the topic back to the present.
"You have a good memory, do you still remember those items I asked you to make for me before?"
"How many? You little rascal, you're still trying to tease this old man after just one trip? Testing my memory again, aren't you?"
The old man stood up, took a box from the top of the shelf, and unlocked it with a key.
"This one alone is enough to torment this old man."
The box was opened, and inside lay three or four objects similar to the jade pendant that Ning Lu had found close to her body.
Her pupils contracted, and she quickly picked one up to examine it closely.
"The dragon and auspicious pattern is something only the emperor can use. The one you took away was the most accurate imitation I could make. However, if you look closely, you can still see some differences."
“I’ve been worried about this for a long time, afraid that something might happen to you because of this jade pendant.”
The old man was very talkative when he started showing concern for others.
Ning Lu sensed something was wrong.
If that's the case, then the one she found in the original owner's clothes was probably a fake.
She pressed on urgently, "Do you remember where I told you to put it exactly as it was?"
"You won't tell me where this came from, so how can you tell me where you put it?!"
Before Ning Lu could explain, the old man waved his hand again and said suddenly, "Over the years, I don't know how you've managed to make a living, and why you keep getting wounds every now and then. But you're a good child. This world is not easy. No matter what the method, as long as you can live, that's good."
Life is tough; just being alive is good enough.
It was already evening when Ning Lu came out of the old man's yard.
After arriving in Changzhou, her life was like it was on fast-forward, with all sorts of information flooding in, making it hard to keep up.
The cold metal piece in her arms made her uneasy, and Ning Lu shivered, shrinking her head.
I need to go back to the dungeon and ask Yu Lanzhou about this.
Following my memory, I walked through the winding alley and saw Qinghuai and Qingzhi standing under the tree, stamping their feet anxiously.
The two men breathed a sigh of relief when they saw her from afar and jogged up to her.
Remembering Xie Qinghe's earlier threat, Ning Lu's heart tightened, and she quickly took a few steps to catch up. She then heard the clatter of hooves behind her; two or three men were crossing the bustling market, and passersby were tripping and falling as they tried to avoid them.
She felt dissatisfied and glared at those figures from behind.
Before she could stop, Qingzhi rushed up and grabbed her arm: "Are you alright, miss? We were so worried about you."
"I just went to check it out for fun, I didn't leave any bodyguards to inform you." Afraid they would press for answers, she quickly changed the subject: "Where are they from? Why are they so rude?"
"They seem to have come from the south of the city. They're probably General Zhao Yue's men."
"Zhao Yue?"
Mentioning him, Ning Lu frowned: "Didn't they say he was Prince Jing's man? Prince Jing is under house arrest, so why is he still so flamboyant?"
Upon hearing this, Qinghuai and Qingzhi immediately covered her mouth and helped her onto the carriage from both sides.
"Grandma, this matter concerns the imperial authority, so you can't just say things like that."
"We need to go home and talk behind closed doors."
Seeing that the two of them seemed genuinely frightened, Ning Lu held back until she returned to the inn before daring to ask them what had happened.
Prince Jing's mother, Consort Chun, was from Changzhou. Before Prince Jing reached adulthood, Consort Chun passed away, and the late emperor granted Changzhou to Prince Jing as his fiefdom.
For this reason, Prince Jing enjoyed a very high reputation in Changzhou. Even before the Crown Prince ascended the throne, the people of Changzhou had voiced their support for Prince Jing to become emperor.
Later, when the Prince Xian rebelled, Prince Jing was implicated. The Emperor was benevolent and, although he ordered Prince Jing to stay at home, he did not treat him harshly.
As time went by, people naturally forgot about it a little.
Ultimately, it all boils down to one thing: the emperor is far away and the country is high up.
After hearing this, Ning Lu wanted to sigh, but seeing Qinghuai and Qingzhi's pleading look, she finally swallowed back the words that the emperor was truly pathetic.
Even so, she still found the newly enthroned emperor in the capital to be very strange.
Not to mention that power fell into Xie Qinghe's hands.
Under his territory, what difference is there between a prince who has achieved this and someone who has seized power and become king?
Working for a leader like that, wouldn't Xie Qinghe, a highly capable and skilled individual, be exhausted to death?
As night fell, the main building in the North Garden remained unlit.
That person hasn't returned yet.
"I think it is precisely because of Prince Jing and Zhao Yue that Lord Xie is in such a hurry to come to Changzhou this time."
Qinghuai slipped a hot water bottle into Ninglu's arms.
"Speaking of which, before we came, Physician Luo advised us not to overwork ourselves. I'm afraid you haven't slept for several days because of the grain tax matter."
Qingzhi emptied the incense ash, replaced it with fresh calming incense, but heard no reply, so he turned to look at Qinghuai.
The two exchanged a glance, then looked at Ning Lu, who was standing by the window staring blankly at the North Garden, and fell silent in unison.
Ever since Xie Qinghe stormed off, she, who had never suffered from insomnia even when the sky was falling after transmigrating, has started to experience insomnia.
No matter how many different calming incense Qingzhi and Qinghuai tried for her, it didn't work.
Every time she tossed and turned at night, she would think of the faint medicinal scent on that guy.
With a sudden, agile movement, Ning Lu opened her sleepy eyes and belatedly realized something.
This body seems to have gotten used to Xie Qinghe's scent...
The lights in the north courtyard remained off.
Ning Lu blinked.
According to the maid who was on night duty last night, Xie Qinghe did not return last night.
In that case, she can borrow a piece of clothing and return it tomorrow morning. That shouldn't be a problem, right?
Let's get right to it.
He disappeared into the darkness, and knowing the way well, climbed in through the window.
There was indeed no one in bed, and the tea on the table was cold.
She crept up to the wardrobe and rummaged through it by the moonlight.
The coarse linen garment she bought for Ji Ming was buried at the bottom of the wardrobe, standing out conspicuously among a sea of brocade robes.
Ning Lu carefully pulled it out and spread it out on her lap.
I was right.
Looking at the wardrobe overflowing with clothes, I couldn't help but have a thought.
Since she bought it, it shouldn't be a problem for her to take it, right?
Let's consider this a clean break.
He folded the clothes and put them in his arms, preparing to leave, when he heard footsteps outside.
Someone is coming.
A group of guards lined up in an orderly fashion in the north courtyard, while two people went inside to light lamps.
Is Xie Qinghe coming back?
By the time Ning Lu realized this, Wei Zhan, Wei Chun, and the others had already entered the courtyard, and the servants holding the lanterns had also entered the bedroom.
She only had time to slip into the corner between the wall and the wardrobe to hide.
After the servants had finally lit the lamps, changed the hot water, and left, they heard two distinct footsteps enter the room, one after the other, and the door was pulled shut from the outside.
Ning Lu tiptoed to escape through the window when she heard Cen Wei's deafening, rough voice, which startled her.
"Changzhou is now impoverished, and the villagers in several villages in Pingcheng are starving. Jiang Hong only cares about accumulating wealth and has no regard for the lives of the people."
"And then there's Pan Xingxue. The severe drought a few years ago and the floods of recent years have brought suffering to the people, but filled his pockets. Putting aside his embezzlement, Prince Jing can still act arrogantly and domineeringly, so he can't escape responsibility."
"Now everything is laid out clearly on the table. The Imperial Guards are also in Changzhou. The overall situation is under control. Why don't you deal with him? What are you waiting for?"
Ning Lu's head was throbbing from Cen Wei's barrage of shouts. She hadn't heard Xie Qinghe's voice and was suddenly curious about his reaction.
After hesitating for a moment, he put the clothes in his arms aside, circled around the guards, and chose the most secluded corner to hide in.
Fortunately, the inn was compactly laid out, and the rooms were not too big, allowing her to have a complete view of the surroundings.
"This is none of your business."
"Then may I ask, Lord Xie, what is it that I should be in charge of?" Cen Wei countered. "You were once the emperor's companion and a scholar who spoke out for the people. You are also a prized disciple of my mentor. Please enlighten me."
Upon hearing this, Ning Lu silently gave the man a thumbs up in her heart and glanced at Xie Qinghe.
Finally, the person who had been standing with his hands behind his back in front of the desk turned around and looked up at Cen Wei.
His gaze was cold and sharp, and she felt a chill run down her spine even from a distance.
“You once served as a high-ranking official of the third rank in the capital. You should know that when you have great power, you cannot just be a scholar.”
"You are a trusted minister, and you are naturally planning for the sake of the times. I am short-sighted and have only seen that the people on this land are suffering."
Xie Qinghe said calmly, "Since that's the case, you'd better take care of yourself. Otherwise, you might even lose your position as county magistrate."
The weariness in his tone was so obvious that Ning Lu couldn't help but frown.
Cen Wei, however, seemed completely oblivious to Xie Qinghe's exhaustion, and retorted, "Can't protect him? I'm just a county magistrate. When I was serving in the Privy Council, I couldn't even protect my mentor. Now, as a mere fifth-rank official, do you think I can protect myself?"
Xie Qinghe did not want to get entangled with him. Her fingertips traced the sandalwood, and she silently responded behind the table.
"Xie Jiming, Xie Qinghe! You'd better give me an explanation!"
Cen Wei was furious. He slammed his hands on the table and leaned in to stare at the other person.
Ning Lu was alarmed by the noise, and then she remembered that the guy couldn't stand loud noises.
Turning my head, I saw the person behind the desk with their eyes gently closed, their breathing erratic.
It was only for a moment; when I looked up again, everything had returned to normal.
“Even I can see what Prince Jing is thinking. He is hoarding wealth and grain, building up his military power, and blocking news from Changzhou. He has ulterior motives. Can’t you see that?”
"So what if you see through it?"
"I can tell you're right..."
Cen Wei's voice stopped abruptly, and he stared straight at Xie Qinghe.
The two looked at each other silently. The latter was the first to look away, his chest heaving as he stared down at the floor tiles.
When he spoke again, Cen Wei's tone was noticeably gentler: "Does the Emperor know?"
Xie Qinghe remained silent.
"You're planning to take on such a huge responsibility all by yourself?"
The man's voice remained low, so Ning Lu had no choice but to concentrate and listen carefully.
"I will give you an explanation regarding the teacher's matter. As for this matter, you don't need to worry about it."
Cen Wei, who had been jumping up and down since stepping into the room, suddenly calmed down, but the reproach in his tone did not diminish at all.
"Xie Jiming, you're just being ridiculous."
He sighed: "I, Cen Wei, may be a bit rash, but I also know that being in the limelight isn't a good thing. There are some things you can handle now because the emperor's power is still weak. What will you do when he realizes what's going on in a few years?"
"Someone as shrewd as you, who is good at making a living, can't even figure this out?"
Perhaps sensing the concern in his tone, Xie Qinghe moved his body with difficulty.
He lowered his head and smoothed out the scattered papers and letters on the table, one by one, before speaking softly.
"To have reached my position and still dream of escaping unscathed is utterly ridiculous."
The tone was like the cold, desolate surface of water illuminated by moonlight—chilling and dangerous.
Cen Wei completely forgot about social status and raised his hand to point directly at Xie Qinghe. The man neither dodged nor avoided him, letting the hem of his robe flick across his cheek and brush past the tip of his nose.
"Xie Jiming, you've really gone mad."
Just as Ning Lu was worrying about Cen Wei, she saw the man turn and leave.
"Lord Cen."
It was Wei Zhan's voice.
"No need to see me off!"
Ning Lu heard the angry footsteps outside the door and couldn't help but chuckle.
She thought that high-ranking officials had to be as composed as Xie Qinghe, or at least as cunning and scheming as Pan Xingxue.
This Lord Cen is truly impressive.
There's no show to watch.
She pouted and turned to slip away.
Before retreating, they felt that Xie Qinghe's voice and tone were different from usual, so they peered through the crack in the door again.
The person seemed lost in thought, still standing upright.
Her body was as thin as paper, as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind.
Fortunately, there was no wind.
Xie Qinghe simply stood quietly, staring blankly at the ground with his eyes down, breathing slowly and blinking slowly.
Ning Lu quietly took a few steps back, intending to slip away before he could react.
Just then, through a tear the size of a fingernail, she saw Xie Qinghe stagger and sway weakly for a moment.
Then, the man's hands fell limply to the table, and his head slumped down.
She bit her lip to stay calm.
Don't give others the chance to manipulate you, Ning Lulu.
The next moment, her eyes widened in surprise.
Large swathes of scarlet blood gushed from his lips.
The man's knuckles were white as he braced himself on the table, his brows furrowed, and he looked as if he were about to collapse.
Coughing sound...
The cough was barely audible.
All that could be seen were his slightly trembling shoulders and...
More and more blood seeped from between his fingers.
What alarmed Ning Lu the most was that the man seemed completely unconcerned, hastily covering up the bloodstains with his wide, dark blue sleeves.
Then, like an autumn leaf falling, he drifted and slumped slowly into the chair.
The room fell into a deathly silence.
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