Chapter Thirty-Two: Leaving the Residence in Secret

“…So you mean I must guard these jewels carefully, not to mention I mustn’t pawn them outside?” Su Lilu was stunned as she looked at the two maids, the sorrow in her eyes plain to see.

Under Su Lilu’s heated gaze, Liu Zhu and Liu Ying nodded. Su Lilu let out a wail, collapsed onto the table, her eyes brimming with pain—her plan to strike it rich had gone up in smoke.

Afraid Su Lilu might still be harboring such thoughts, Liu Ying spoke sternly, “Miss, not only mustn’t you pawn these jewels, you cannot let them fall into other hands. If evil people were to pick them up, your reputation would be in grave danger.” She dared not say more, but the worry in her eyes was clear to Su Lilu. Knowing the two maids had her best interests at heart, she nodded slightly, smiling to reassure them.

“All right, all right, you’ve made it sound so serious—how could I even entertain such thoughts?” Su Lilu could only turn her gaze to the loose silver coins beside her, sighing and murmuring, “Only a few dozen taels—opening a shop would be difficult, let alone anything else. Alas, the heavens truly wish to ruin me.”

“Miss, miss, what are you saying?” Liu Zhu saw Su Lilu’s lips moving, but her voice was barely audible. She only caught the phrase “the heavens wish to ruin me,” and immediately became alarmed, looking at Su Lilu with worry—could it be the inability to pawn the jewels had driven her to thoughts of despair?

“Nothing, only that the silver is a bit little.” Hearing this, Liu Zhu’s heart leapt to her throat. Grasping Su Lilu’s hand, she stared at her and said, “Miss, you mustn’t do anything foolish. You can always save up more silver. If anything were to happen to you, what would become of us maids?”

At this, Liu Zhu burst into tears. Su Lilu, startled, quickly gripped Liu Zhu’s hand, her head spinning, but soon she couldn’t help but laugh. “Liu Zhu, what are you saying? Do I look like someone who would take her own life?”

Su Lilu then had Liu Zhu bring out the silver, while Liu Ying put the jewelry back in its place. She slipped behind the screen and changed into men’s clothing. Liu Zhu was shocked, pointing at Su Lilu’s attire, exclaiming, “Miss, you’re going out again?”

“Clever as always, Liu Zhu. Keep your voice down; do you want the whole household to know? You don’t need to come with me this time—I’ll go alone and return soon.” At her desk, Su Lilu stuffed a few folded papers from under some books into her sleeve, waved at the two maids, and disappeared in a flash.

Liu Zhu and Liu Ying could only close the door, trembling with worry, and sit inside the room, praying for Su Lilu’s safe and swift return.

Su Lilu slipped out of the mansion through a dog hole, straightened her robes, and walked the streets as if nothing were amiss, even holding a folding fan with an air of practiced ease.

She wandered from East Street to West Street, entering any interesting shop to look around, chatting with the shop assistants to gather information about the market.

After making a round, she idly tapped her head with the fan, sinking into thought. The little silver she had was not enough for any grand venture—perhaps just enough to set up a street stall, but she could hardly show her face in public. The idea was unreliable, which left Su Lilu sighing again, her face clouded with worry.

Looking up, Su Lilu realized she had come to the shop where she had previously bought medicinal herbs. She set aside all thoughts of business and strode inside. The shop assistant rushed over to greet her, and Su Lilu greeted him with familiarity, “Shopkeeper, I wonder if you still remember me?”

The shopkeeper stared blankly at Su Lilu, then after a moment his mouth dropped open in surprise. “Y-young master, what brings you here today?” Of course, the shopkeeper remembered Su Lilu—he’d even consulted his employer for the herbs she’d needed before. Today, however, with her change of attire, he hadn’t recognized her at first. Once she spoke, her familiarity struck him, and understanding dawned in his eyes: an old acquaintance.

“Boy, quickly bring tea! Young master, what herbs do you need this time?” After seating Su Lilu, the shopkeeper stood by and asked.

Su Lilu handed over two sheets of paper. “These are what I need, shopkeeper.”

After reading them, the shopkeeper suppressed his surprise and replied calmly, “Please wait a moment, young master. I’ll have the boy prepare your herbs.”

Sipping her tea in leisure, Su Lilu watched as the shopkeeper ascended to a room on the second floor. Inside stood a man in a purple robe, a jade coronet on his head that was clearly no ordinary ornament. “Master, I have something to report,” the shopkeeper said.

The man turned around, his deep, ink-black eyes meeting the shopkeeper’s, who immediately bowed his head, waiting respectfully for orders.

The man’s clear voice came, “What is it?”

“The young lady from last time has returned for more medicinal herbs. I am having the boy fetch them now,” the shopkeeper replied, eyes lowered, his body tense, fearing the master might be angered.

“I see.” The man’s sword-like brows knit slightly. With no further orders, the shopkeeper quietly withdrew. The man stepped out, standing at a hidden vantage point on the second floor, from which he could observe Su Lilu’s every move.

Su Lilu suddenly felt someone’s gaze upon her. She looked around but saw nothing out of the ordinary, so she lowered her head to sip her tea, reassuring herself, “Perhaps I’m simply nervous from sneaking out of the house.”

Patting the purse at her waist, she remembered the prescriptions tucked in her sleeve. She had the boy summon the shopkeeper, who soon stood before her again. “What can I do for you, young master?”

“Shopkeeper, does your pharmacy buy good prescriptions?” Su Lilu hesitated for a long time before finally asking.

Just then, a man in his forties entered the store. The shopkeeper called out, “Doctor Luo, come take a look. This young master wishes to sell some prescriptions—come give your opinion.”

The shopkeeper wasn’t well-versed in prescriptions himself. Doctor Luo, hearing of good prescriptions for sale, hurried over to stand before Su Lilu. “Where are the prescriptions?”

“I can’t give them to you just yet, but I can tell you the contents. See if you have any interest.”

Su Lilu recited a few formulas she’d memorized from medical books. When she finished, Doctor Luo nodded repeatedly. “Shopkeeper, these formulas are truly excellent.”

Hearing Doctor Luo’s verdict, the anxiety in Su Lilu’s heart melted away. Calmly holding her tea, she took a sip and felt much more at ease.

The shopkeeper nodded at once. “We’ll buy your formulas, young master. How much do you wish to sell them for?”

Su Lilu raised one hand. The shopkeeper considered, then agreed, “As you say. Once the payment is settled, please hand over the formulas to me.”

“No problem,” she replied.

Eager for more, Doctor Luo pressed, “Do you have any other good formulas, young master? Our shop will purchase them at the same price.”

Just then, the boy brought Su Lilu her herbs. The shopkeeper handed her a tidy banknote for the agreed sum. Su Lilu drew several sheets of rice paper from her sleeve, took the silver and the herbs, and seeing Doctor Luo still watching her, could only reply helplessly, “Good formulas are hard to come by. If not for my family’s need for silver, I would never have sold this one so lightly.”