Chapter Fifty: The Jade Pendant

Nanny Chang simply assumed Su Lilu was being modest and let out a couple of chuckles, fine lines appearing at the corners of her eyes as she gazed at Su Lilu, lost in thought. Having been in the Prime Minister’s Manor for so long, she had observed the eldest young lady in secret for quite some time, only choosing to serve her when she realized Su Lilu was nothing like the rumors that painted her as foolish and dull.

Su Lilu, preoccupied with the treasure map, no longer had the mind to continue chatting with Nanny Chang. Weariness clouded her expression, and Nanny Chang, knowing her place, quietly withdrew.

Once the room was empty, Su Lilu fetched the treasure map and studied it for a long while. A strange sense of familiarity nagged at her as she scrutinized the drawn route. Brow furrowed, she absentmindedly bit her finger, vexed over the map’s location. “Why do I feel like I’ve been to these places, yet I just can’t recall?”

Frustrated with her own uncooperative memory, she flopped onto her bed. From outside, the faint voices of the maids drifted in. “Sister Firefly, I just went to the garden…”

“The garden… the garden…” Su Lilu echoed under her breath, and suddenly a flash of inspiration struck her. She sat bolt upright, wild delight lighting her face as she covered her mouth to stifle a gasp.

Her hands trembled with excitement as she laughed quietly. “So it’s the garden. No wonder it all seemed so familiar!”

Unable to remain still, she carefully examined the map again, confirmed the location of the treasure, hurriedly put on her shoes, and dashed out of the room. Startled, Liu Zhu called after her, “Miss, it’s cold outside! You must wear something warmer!”

But Su Lilu raced toward the garden, heedless of the chilly wind biting through her clothes. She didn’t stop until she reached the garden, where she bent over, gasping for breath. Liu Zhu soon caught up, cloak in hand, and without another word, draped it over Su Lilu’s shoulders, scolding, “Miss, you don’t care for your health at all! What if you catch cold?”

“I’m fine, Liu Zhu. Go back for now, let me walk around alone.” After searching for some time, Su Lilu finally found the spot marked on the treasure map. Liu Zhu, ever persistent, kept chattering beside her until Su Lilu’s ears rang and her patience wore thin.

Liu Zhu, feeling wronged and confused by her young mistress’s uncharacteristic behavior, hung her head. Seeing her unmoving, Su Lilu’s voice grew louder, “Liu Zhu, are you disobeying me now?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Liu Zhu’s reply was tinged with tears. When she looked up and saw Su Lilu wasn’t even looking her way, she stamped her foot, and the wind carried her tears to the ground as she ran off.

Su Lilu stamped her feet in frustration. After standing for a while, the cold seeped into her bones. The garden was vast, and she couldn’t search openly, so after a quick survey without finding anything unusual, she had no choice but to return.

After dinner, Su Lilu grew more restless the more she thought about it. Her chest felt tight in the confines of her room, so she threw on a cloak and stepped outside for some air. During dinner, Liu Zhu had been teased by Su Lilu, which eased her spirits, and now she followed attentively.

When she saw Su Lilu heading out, Liu Zhu hurried to stop her. “Miss, it’s late and freezing outside. Let’s go back. Whatever it is, we can look for it tomorrow.”

“Alright, let’s just walk around the courtyard.” Su Lilu hesitated at the gate, then turned to a tree within the courtyard. She stumbled, and Liu Zhu quickly steadied her, concerned. “Are you alright, Miss?”

“I’m fine.” Su Lilu’s sharp eyes noticed, under the lantern light in the corridor, that she’d tripped over something odd. She crouched down and found the patch of earth beneath her foot was unusual.

“Liu Zhu, fetch a small spade for me, quickly.” Liu Zhu, puzzled but dutiful, hurried inside to get the tool, returning breathless and handing it over.

Su Lilu shrugged off her cloak and had Liu Zhu hold it as she began to dig at the suspicious spot. After about fifteen minutes, an iron box emerged from the soil. Su Lilu cleared away the surrounding dirt and yanked the box free.

It was locked. Brow furrowed, Su Lilu stared at the iron box, a premonition stirring that whatever was inside must be important. Her gaze fell on the spade, and rubbing her hands together, she struck the lock hard. With a satisfying crack, the lock broke open. Smiling broadly, she opened the box to find a jade pendant inside.

She lifted the pendant and examined it closely. The intricate design seemed familiar—she recalled a military treatise she had read that day and sensed a connection. Instructing Liu Zhu to tidy up the area, Su Lilu rushed back inside with the jade pendant.

She scoured the military texts but found nothing. “Firefly, bring me books on jade and gemstones. I want to look through them.” Firefly nodded and soon returned with a stack of books. Su Lilu quickly flipped through them, waving Firefly away.

Only when she neared the last book did she discover a pattern identical to the one on the pendant. Upon careful comparison, she found both motifs came from the same origin. Reading the annotation beside the entry, she froze, her face paling—unbelievably, the jade pendant was a military tally.

“How could a military tally be buried in the courtyard?” Su Lilu recalled Nanny Chang’s words about her mother having been a great general. Her hand caressed the jade. Could it be her mother’s legacy?

“It must be Mother’s. This thing is dangerous—I can’t let anyone find it. Liu Zhu saw it today; I’ll need to find an excuse.” Su Lilu made up her mind, placed the pendant in a brocade pouch, locked it together with her banknotes in her jewelry case, and finally felt at ease.

Just as she finished, Liu Zhu knocked at the door. “Miss, may I come in?”

“Come in. Well, did you finish tidying up outside?” Now that Su Lilu had a plan, she was calmer than before.

“It’s done. Miss, why was that jade pendant buried in the courtyard?” Liu Zhu’s curiosity was evident, but when she saw Su Lilu’s displeased look, her smile faded and she lowered her head, silent.

Realizing she’d been too stern, Su Lilu quickly smiled. “Liu Zhu, it’s just a valuable piece. One day, if I pawn it, I can buy several baskets of good charcoal, and we won’t have to freeze anymore.”

Hearing this, Liu Zhu’s spirits lifted, her cheeks rosy from the cold as she grinned. “Miss, you’re so wise. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Wait, Liu Zhu, you mustn’t tell anyone about the jade. If it can’t be pawned, we’ll have a hard winter ahead.” Su Lilu sighed, watching Liu Zhu’s reaction.

Liu Zhu immediately understood and patted her chest in assurance. “Don’t worry, Miss. I’ll keep it secret. I’ll put away the spade and come back to attend you.”

“Go on, then.” Having reassured Liu Zhu, Su Lilu let out a long breath, finally feeling some relief.