Ya She

Chapter 48 Double Jump

Everyone has regrets in their life, and everyone has a past they wish they could return to.

Lu Zigang sat at the counter of the Silent Shop, looking at the pair of newly made openwork carved bracelets with intertwined branches in his hands by the light of the Changxin Palace Lantern.

These jade bracelets are made of top-quality Hetian jade pebbles. Upon closer inspection, they are actually two layers. The surface of the bracelet is decorated with an extremely delicate carving technique, depicting a vine-like branch with intertwined branches, where even the veins on the leaves are clearly visible, and there are even a few dewdrops. The second layer is a smooth and rounded bracelet body. The two layers are cleverly connected by the intertwined branches, but when worn on the wrist, only a lifelike circle of intertwined branches can be seen wrapped around the hand, which can only be described as exquisite. On the inside of the bracelet, the renowned Zi Gang mark is engraved.

Lu Zigang gently placed the pair of bracelets on the brocade cloth and rubbed his slightly sore right wrist.

He spent almost all his savings and used a large amount of jade to hone his jade carving skills. Finally, after ruining several pieces of jade, he carved a pair of jade bracelets that he was quite satisfied with.

Lu Zigang stared at the pair of jade bracelets, as if pondering a hesitant question. He leaned back in his chair, hiding his face where the Changxin Palace lanterns couldn't reach, and remained motionless.

Inside the silent room, only the gilded dragon-shaped incense burner quietly emitted incense smoke, the wisps of smoke silently winding and rising in the air.

After sitting silently in the darkness for a long time, Lu Zigang finally picked up his phone and dialed a number. It took a long time for the other party to answer. Because the Silent House was so quiet, when the call connected, the noise from the other person echoed throughout the house.

"The stove! What's wrong? Isn't there still two hours until then?" Doctor Lu Zigang moved it slightly away before awkwardly saying, "Last time the compass malfunctioned, and we were stranded in the Ming Dynasty for several days before returning. Just to be on the safe side, let's not use it for now. I need to recalculate the compass's orientation."

"Okay, remember to call me when you can use it! I'm on duty in the ER and can't leave right now." The doctor's answer was straightforward. Time travel, such a high-end and sophisticated thing, naturally needs to be done without any mistakes. Otherwise, if he couldn't get back, the doctor didn't want to be separated from his phone, computer, and air conditioning. Besides, apart from being extremely anxious about his boss's sudden disappearance a few months ago, he had gradually come to terms with it. He had the time, he could afford to wait, and he was even considering taking his annual leave this year to travel to famous mountains and rivers in China. Maybe he could actually find some clues.

Lu Zigang hung up the phone expressionlessly, let out a deep breath, and after a few seconds of stillness, began to take action.

He took out a set of long, straight-cut blue cloth robe from the Ming Dynasty and put it on. Then, in front of the mirror, he put on a wig and carefully placed the pair of bracelets from the brocade cloth into a brocade box and tucked it into his bosom. After making all the preparations, he picked up the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass and carefully adjusted the pointers on it.

He had memorized the calculated angle and thought about it a thousand times in his mind. He was sure he wouldn't make a mistake, but he still held his breath and his palms were sweating.

Yes, he did have thoughts he shouldn't have had.

The Luoshu Nine Stars Compass has fifty-two layers, with the most having three hundred and eighty-four grids. If someone doesn't understand it, they'll definitely get dizzy just looking at it. Lu Zigang also found it extremely difficult to use when he first got his hands on it.

But after several time travels, he recorded the angle of the movement and the corresponding dynasty, thus grasping the pattern. Therefore, he could actually take the doctor back several months ago to find out where the boss had gone.

But he didn't want to do that. If the boss returned, he wouldn't be able to tamper with the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass without permission.

Everyone has regrets in their life, and everyone has a past they wish they could return to. He always had such a loud voice.

Initially, he didn't have such intentions; he simply thought that trying a few more times would be safer, allowing himself to travel between different dynasties with the doctor. He knew that even if he went back in time, he couldn't do anything, only be an observer, unable to change history. But after the doctor treated the young man from the Republic of China era and he found nothing wrong, although he still verbally opposed it, his thoughts gradually changed.

So when Lu Zigang transmigrated into General Qi's barracks last month, he had the same mindset and did not forcefully stop the doctor from saving lives.

Now, a month has passed, and nothing unexpected has happened. Perhaps they saved insignificant people in history, whose actions wouldn't affect the overall course of history. So, could he perhaps hold onto a sliver of hope?

Lu Zigang removed his hand from the pointer, and the compass emitted a burst of white light. Filled with anticipation and trepidation, Lu Zigang slowly closed his eyes.

The capital city of the Ming Dynasty in the 21st year of the Jiajing reign

Xia Zhelan pressed the slightly bulging purse at her waist, a slight smile appearing on her beautiful face. She had promised Eunuch Li she would cook a table full of Suzhou dishes, but the jade carver the Jade Workshop was planning to hire had left early because of her, so she didn't have to cook.

Without having to work an entire afternoon, you can get a substantial reward directly. Anyone would think it's a windfall.

Thinking of the somewhat dim-witted jade carver, Xia Zhelan's smile deepened. To have a jade carver with exceptional memory carve her jade material for free—her haul today was truly impressive!
The weight of the jade piece around her neck felt a little strange. Xia Zhelan, carrying a small bundle containing a rolling pin, emerged from the courtyard of the Jade Carving Workshop. Although no one was guiding her this time, she still managed to navigate the maze-like workshop by memory. Passing the neighboring Imperial Lantern Workshop, she saw craftsmen preparing for the initial production of various types of lanterns, including turtle-shaped lanterns, flower lanterns, and rolling lanterns. Every year, the Lantern Festival in the capital falls on the 17th day of the first lunar month, which falls on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. The Imperial Lantern Workshop is responsible for all the lanterns used in the palace and the capital. Although there are still two months until the end of December, these craftsmen have already begun their busy work.

Just looking at those red lantern paper and silk cloths brings a sense of joy from the bottom of one's heart. Xia Zhelan indulged herself in pausing to watch for a while before turning away, satisfied.

Since she had nothing to do that evening, Xia Zhelan thought to herself as she walked. Each palace within the imperial palace had its own small kitchen, and the people from the Imperial Kitchen would take turns helping out there. Tonight, she was supposed to be on duty at Consort Duan's residence. She had specifically switched shifts with Yu Mei to take over Li Gonggong's job, and going back now might not even require troubling Yu Mei.

Calculating how the extra silver in her purse could be used to buy several more sets of winter clothes before winter arrived, Xia Zhelan walked briskly towards the gate of the Imperial Household Department. She still wore her Imperial Kitchen badge at her waist, so the guards there didn't give her any trouble. As soon as Xia Zhelan stepped out of the gate, she saw a person standing across the street, staring intently at her, someone she couldn't ignore even if she wanted to.

It turned out to be the jade carver who had just left, and he was clearly waiting for her.

Xia Zhelan immediately walked over, tilting her head curiously to ask, "Master Lu, what are you doing here? Are you going back to find Si Zheng?" Xia Zhelan found his expression strange, and she also noticed that the clothes he was wearing weren't the same ones he had just worn; they were only similar in color, but upon closer inspection, they were completely different. Had he already gone back to change his clothes?
"No need to call me Master Lu, just call me Brother Lu. Uh... I..." The young jade carver was a little flustered, and a slight blush appeared on his handsome face.

Xia Zhelan was taken aback. She hadn't seen this man so easily embarrassed when they were alone together in the kitchen! But then Xia Zhelan realized her thinking was flawed. What did she mean by "alone together"? A man and a woman alone together! Luckily, no one saw them, or her reputation would be ruined! She then remembered that she was the one who had initiated the conversation, and her cheeks flushed crimson. Even the usually carefree Xia Zhelan realized how inappropriate it was to be in public.

Since the Imperial Kitchen was usually staffed by women or older men, the younger men she came into contact with were mostly eunuchs. Therefore, she had no concept of the proper separation between men and women.

It's not good for these two to be blushing while looking at each other at the gate of the Imperial Workshop! Xia Zhelan lowered her head, wanting to quickly bow and turn around and leave, but unexpectedly, the jade carver spoke first.

"Meeting an old friend in a foreign land is one of the four great joys of life. Would you allow me to treat you to a meal in return? For... that fried rice from ten years ago?"

Xia Zhelan was taken aback. Looking at the handsome jade carver in front of her, she felt he looked more and more familiar. Remembering the mute shop he had just mentioned, she exclaimed softly, "You're the young man next door!"

The young jade carver nodded slowly, his clear eyes containing a complex meaning that Xia Zhelan could not fathom.

"My God, what a coincidence!" After confirming the identities of the two, Xia Zhelan couldn't help but marvel at the wonder of fate. She also understood why the jade carver was so excited when he saw the jade around her neck and even took the initiative to ask to carve it. It turned out they were old acquaintances!

After they identified themselves to each other, the awkwardness from before vanished. Xia Zhelan thought about it and decided that since she had already switched shifts with Yu Mei, she might as well relax a bit. After all, she would be taking Yu Mei's place next time anyway.

But when she nodded in agreement, the young jade carver's expression suddenly froze.

Seeing him frantically patting himself down, Xia Zhelan understood. He must have been in such a hurry to change his clothes that he hadn't brought his purse.

Xia Zhelan was both amused and exasperated. This guy wanted to treat her like this? She rolled her eyes, patted the purse at her waist, and generously said, "This meal is on me!" The Imperial Workshop, where the jade-carving workshop was located, was about a mile southwest of Xihua Gate. More than five hundred years later, this area would become a place Lu Zigang frequently visited during his internship at the National Museum—Xidan in Beijing. The Imperial Workshop occupied a vast area, stretching from the Zhenwu Temple outside the Second Ring Road at Fuxingmen to the Qianmen area. To the east were the outer and main warehouses, to the west the flower warehouse, and to the south the ice storage warehouse. To the left and right were the wood and lacquer workshop, the jade-carving workshop, the lamp workshop, and the Buddhist workshop.

Lu Zigang remembered that he visited the Guandi Temple on Qianmen East Road more than 500 years later. It was the former site of the South Treasury of the Imperial Household Department. He felt that the changes of the world were truly unbelievable.

All he could see now were exquisite and dazzling ancient buildings from the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, and all those passing by were people who had already passed away. Logically speaking, he had already traveled through time many times. He shouldn't feel any discomfort, but he had never imagined walking so leisurely on ancient streets, and even being able to connect them with the future Beijing of his dreams. This feeling was truly indescribable.

At this point, Lu Zigang even began to think that it would be better if the doctor came with him, so that they could have someone to complain to.

Thinking of this, Lu Zigang unconsciously turned his gaze to the girl who was deliberately lagging behind him by half a step.

Yes, she was a young girl. Although eighteen or nineteen years old was old enough to be a mother in ancient times, to Lu Zigang, she was just a girl who had just graduated from high school. In fact, Lu Zigang didn't have any special feelings for this girl. After all, although he knew that he had loved her with his life in his past life, to him, it was just something that happened in his previous life, like watching someone else's story.

But he was also deeply moved by the story. From beginning to end, she in his past life didn't know the girl's name, and the girl didn't know that someone had once regarded her as the only light in their life. This directly led to him constantly reliving the scenes of his past life in his dreams for over a year, recalling even the details clearly, and even mastering the jade-carving skills from his past life a few months ago. It was simply... like being forced to endure another life.

He had just resigned and taken over the Silent Shop, so he went to see a master to check on him. When the doctor regained his memories of his past life, it wasn't like this. Why was he like this?
The master stroked his bald head and explained that the doctor was a reincarnated soul with an incomplete spirit. Therefore, not only did he never live past the age of 12 in each reincarnation, but even with a longevity lock protecting him, he could only live to 24. Each reincarnation was also marked by misfortune, either the destruction of his family or a short lifespan. In modern parlance, he was a cursed lone star reincarnated. Such a person wouldn't be haunted by the resentment of his past life; any glimpses of his past life would be fleeting. Lu Zigang's recollection of his past life stemmed from the intense resentment he carried, which was difficult to shake off. Lu Zigang deeply agreed, for he had witnessed many examples: the painter who still came to the Silent House every day to paint, the farmer who ran a flower shop on the street corner, the college couple who occasionally sat in the Silent House… He didn't know how many others would remember their past lives like him, but he knew that if the painter were given the chance to travel back in time, he would immediately abdicate in favor of a suitable person and never again covet that aloof and cold dragon throne.

But his situation was different from others. The girl behind him was actually one of Fusu's reincarnations. Because his soul was incomplete, he had no memories of his previous life. In other words, he could only have this life, and if he couldn't have a fulfilling one, he would be filled with resentment for the rest of his life. He couldn't find his lover in this life like the nerdy guy at the flower shop on the street.

Therefore, when he acquired the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass, an irrepressible thought began to grow in his mind.

In his past life, he was merely a jade craftsman, and the woman he secretly loved was just a humble cook. Their survival or death could not alter the course of history. Why couldn't he do something about it?

In his past life, he and the girl met by chance at a jade workshop. He recognized the jade piece on her chest as his childhood sweetheart and asked for it to be carved. Perhaps it was a coincidence, but the moment the jade was removed from her body, the girl was caught up in the Renyin Palace Coup that very night and was implicated and executed.

If he returned the longevity lock around the girl's neck, would it bless her and allow her to live a few more years in peace?

But if two identical things exist in the same time period, it won't cause any trouble if it's only for a short while, but what if something goes wrong if it goes on for a long time? Lu Zigang dared not act rashly. He only wanted to prevent the girl from getting involved in the Renyin Palace Coup that shocked the court. If he could also bring her back to him from his previous life, wouldn't that help dispel some of the resentment that had been lingering in his mind?
After all, they were just minor figures in history, weren't they?
So he carved those jade bracelets, intending to give them to the young girl when the opportunity arose.

In ancient times, jade bracelets were equivalent to rings in modern terms. A poem from the Han Dynasty, titled "A Poem of Betrothal," states: "What can I use to express my vows, a pair of jade bracelets encircling my wrist?" The "vows" here originate from the Book of Songs: "In life and death, we made a vow. Holding your hand, we will grow old together." The "bracelet" itself refers to a bracelet given by lovers as a token of their commitment.

In his past life, he could tell who carved the jade pieces just by looking at the craftsmanship and the signature. He probably wouldn't understand why there was a second version of himself in this world, but having worked at the Silent Shop in his past life, he'd seen all sorts of strange and unusual things and would naturally be able to guess. Lu Zigang pressed the brocade box in his arms, feeling quite pleased. He had already prevented the girl from returning to the palace to serve, so now all he needed to do was find an opportunity to give her the pair of jade pieces, and his mission would be accomplished.

Lost in thought, Lu Zigang realized they had been wandering through the alleyways for quite some time. In the capital, there was a saying: the east was rich, the west noble, the south poor, and the north lowly. The eastern part of the imperial city was generally inhabited by merchants, whose wealth was immense. Officials, for convenience, usually gathered in the western part of the city. The "southern poverty" referred to the area from Tianqiao outside Qianmen to Yongdingmen, a gathering place for the poor from all walks of life. The area north of the Bell and Drum Towers to Deshengmen was inhabited by the families of palace maids and eunuchs; these people were often looked down upon, hence the "northern lowly." Lu Zigang knew they were currently in the western part of the city, surrounded by the mansions of high-ranking officials, grand courtyards everywhere. Even the few restaurants that existed looked extremely luxurious; they probably couldn't even afford a tip for the waiter.

Xia Zhelan gave a brief introduction. Lu Zigang at least knew her surname, but he couldn't ask for her given name in too much detail. In ancient times, the questioning of a name only occurred during the formal betrothal ceremony. For him, a stranger he had just met, to be invited to dinner by her was already against etiquette.

Fortunately, the Ming Dynasty strictly controlled women, and this control was limited to the daughters and wives of wealthy families. Women from ordinary families were also forced to show their faces in public to make a living. Therefore, Lu Zigang and Xia Zhelan walked almost side by side without attracting much attention. Xia Zhelan, having shed her initial shyness, began to introduce the sights and features of the capital city along the way, knowing that the young jade carver beside her had only recently arrived in the capital.

Lu Zigang was naturally eager to have someone act as his tour guide, but as he listened, he began to feel that something was amiss.

"Oh dear, the braised pork knuckle at Tianfuzhai is too greasy and salty. It definitely won't suit the tastes of us southerners."

"This sugar-coated sesame seed cake is pretty good, but it's better to eat it in the morning. Eating it in the evening is a bit too casual."

"Hongfenglou's roast duck is delicious, but you have to make a reservation a day in advance. It's definitely too late for today."

"The mutton hot pot at Taidefu is okay, but it has a very strong gamey smell, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it."

As Lu Zigang walked, he listened to Xia Zhelan's rambling comments about the restaurants they passed. Finally, he understood: this was definitely a case of professional rivalry… Xia Zhelan spoke while pondering to herself. Occasionally, she would steal glances at the handsome profile of the young jade carver, suddenly recalling the gossip she'd overheard from Eunuch Li. It was said that this newly arrived Suzhou jade carver, although already in his twenties, had no family members accompanying him.

Does not having a family mean you're not married?

Xia Zhelan instinctively reached out to touch the jade pendant around her neck through her clothes, but her hand found nothing. She realized she had already entrusted the jade to the person before her to carve. Reaching for the purse at her waist, Xia Zhelan gritted her teeth and forced a smile, saying, "Brother Lu, to show my sincerity, let me invite you to my house for a meal!"

Lu Zigang was flattered and had no idea how he got there until he stood outside a thriving little restaurant and looked around.

Uh... if he remembers correctly, over 500 years later, this place should be a KFC...

Xia Zhelan moved to Beijing with her parents ten years ago. At that time, her family was doing quite well, and her parents continued to run a small restaurant near Qianmen, specializing in Suzhou and Huaiyang cuisine. Because of their authentic skills and the delicious and affordable dishes, they became quite famous. Unfortunately, their good fortune didn't last long. Xia's father passed away early due to overwork, and her mother also passed away from excessive grief, leaving Xia Zhelan alone.

Xia Zhelan was supposed to follow her parents' dying wish and stay in Suzhou after escorting their coffins back to their hometown. However, since most of her relatives had become estranged, and she didn't want to be forced into an arranged marriage under their control, she returned to the capital after burying her parents. Unable to support a restaurant on her own, she rented out the shop and, due to her excellent cooking skills, was recruited as a cook in the Imperial Kitchen. With her parents deceased and no one to care about her marriage prospects, she was incredibly carefree and independent. Of course, well-meaning aunties and neighbors often tried to introduce her to potential partners, but Xia Zhelan always politely declined. After all, she was alone in the capital, without relatives or friends; what good families could those gossipy women possibly introduce her to? Better to remain single than settle for less; even if she never married, there was nothing wrong with that—this was a decision Xia Zhelan had long ago made.

However, this resolve has now wavered slightly.

Xia Zhelan led Lu Zigang into her family's small rented restaurant without changing her expression. Since it was almost dinner time and the number of customers had increased, their arrival did not attract much attention.

Lu Zigang followed her with practiced ease, passing through the hall and around the kitchen, before entering a narrow courtyard. The courtyard was already piled high with dried vegetables, including skewered wild mushrooms, radish strips, and stacks of cabbages, as well as strings of golden corn hanging from the eaves, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.

Seeing Lu Zigang's gaze lingering on the corn, Xia Zhelan quickly explained, "This is corn, introduced from overseas. It's said to be easy to preserve, and many people who make a living at sea like to eat it. It's also easy to grow and has a high yield. Recently, it's become very popular in the capital. I've been researching some new corn dishes in my spare time."

Lu Zigang was taken aback upon hearing this, only then recalling that corn, originally from Central America and a staple food crop for Native Americans, was introduced to China during the Jiajing era after Columbus discovered the Americas. However, large-scale cultivation only began during the Qing Dynasty. Because corn's growing season overlaps with that of winter wheat, in the northern regions near the Yellow River basin, it could be rotated with winter wheat, achieving two harvests a year. This made corn a staple food for the lower classes, which was one of the main reasons for China's rapid population growth after the 18th century. Therefore, corn was also known as the "sixth grain," another grain beyond the five grains, demonstrating its importance.

Thinking of this, Lu Zigang couldn't help but say, "Corn is great to eat directly boiled or roasted. It's also delicious to stew in soup, grind it into cornmeal, stir-fry the kernels, or make corn pancakes with some oil."

"Huh?" Xia Zhelan had invited Lu Zigang back to cook for her, partly to let him show off this rare corn, but it seemed he knew more about it than she did. Disappointed, Xia Zhelan rallied, asked how to make corn fritters, and then grabbed two ears of corn and plunged into the small kitchen in the yard. Lu Zigang didn't go inside, but stayed outside, helping her with whatever he could, like fetching water and preparing vegetables, as instructed by Xia Zhelan. Although Xia Zhelan's small kitchen was much smaller than the kitchen of the Jade Milling Workshop Director, it was small but complete, filled with numerous jars and pots, clearly Xia Zhelan's private collection.

Lu Zigang had never known that cooking involved so many intricate steps, as modern kitchens are all fully or semi-automated machines. Witnessing the ancient cooking methods firsthand, he found them incredibly magical. Even the amount of firewood added when cooking rice was particular. The graceful figure bustling in the kitchen was like a work of art, every movement exuding captivating charm and leaving an unforgettable impression.

The two set up a round table in the courtyard, and by the time it got a little dark, the table was laden with a rather sumptuous meal.

Four steamed river crabs, glowing reddish-brown; spicy and savory five-spice ribs; golden and crispy corn fritters; brownish-red fried eel slices; and a clay pot of clear-broth crab meat lion's head meatballs. The dishes were a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate, making one's mouth water and one's mouth water. After helping to set the table, Lu Zigang sat upright, enduring the torment. Only then did he realize that he hadn't eaten all day due to the tension before his transmigration.

Xia Zhelan washed her hands, went inside to change out of her clothes, which were covered in grease and smoke. When she came out, she had changed into a light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and put on a light yellow wide-sleeved vest. The vest was decorated only with pink peach blossom trim on the front, and the collar went all the way to the hem, which made her look even more beautiful and charming. Her skin, which was without any makeup, was as beautiful as peach blossoms. Lu Zigang was stunned for a moment.

For a fleeting moment, Lu Zigang actually felt a pang of jealousy towards his past self.

Beautiful, gentle, straightforward, and a great cook... who wouldn't want a girlfriend like that! She's truly a perfect match for both social occasions and domestic needs, ideal for any family.

Xia Zhelan noticed the young jade carver's intense gaze. She paused for a moment, then lowered her eyes and placed a small jar of wine on the round table. When she looked up again, her usual smile had returned, though her cheeks were slightly flushed. "This is a small jar of osmanthus-flavored wine from the Imperial Tea Room, perfect for enjoying with crabs at this time of year. People in the capital don't really like crabs, but these are four male crabs left over from the restaurant up ahead. They're at their fattest now, so it's a good deal for you."

Lu Zigang knew that Xia Zhelan was just being polite. October is the peak season for river crabs, and these four crabs looked bigger than an adult man's fist. Each one was more expensive than all the other dishes on the table. He didn't say anything more, took the jar of wine, and broke the seal. A rich and mellow aroma of wine quickly filled the courtyard.

The wine poured into the porcelain white wine cup was amber in color, refreshing and mellow on the palate, sweet and pure, with the fragrance of osmanthus, leaving a lingering aftertaste. Although the wine was brewed by the Liangyun Department, the Imperial Tea Room managed the tea and wine bestowed by the emperor. This small jar of osmanthus-infused wine was something Xia Zhelan had saved by chance. She didn't particularly like the wine in her cup, which was why she had kept it until now. Seeing the young jade carver's undisguised admiration and his nimble chopsticks, Xia Zhelan, a chef at heart, was completely pleased. Although her dinner seemed simple, the sesame oil, sweet sauce, fermented black beans, soy sauce, vinegar, and other ingredients she used were all her own skillful secret recipes, no less delicious than those made by the Imperial Sauce Department, and the dishes she prepared were far beyond what she could usually eat. Take that steamed crab, for example. She had been keeping it covered with a damp cloth soaked in a little Shaoxing wine for several days to allow it to purge its internal organs. She had planned to eat one a day for the next few days, but then this nemesis appeared, so she had to cook it all together. The steamer was lined with lotus leaves and perilla leaves, and a few peppercorns were stuffed into the crab's navel to remove any fishy smell. She also added a few white chrysanthemum flowers to the steamer. This plate of chrysanthemum crab would cost three taels of silver at Honghonglou.

"Wow, it's so expensive! You've really gone to a lot of trouble for me, young lady."

Xia Zhelan was stunned, and then wished she could hide under the table. She hadn't expected that she would blurt out what she was thinking. She quickly tried to make amends, saying, "Brother Lu, please don't mind. I can't afford to pay you for carving that jade for me, so I'm just making this meal to express my gratitude."

In the early Ming Dynasty, silver had relatively strong purchasing power. By the mid-Ming Dynasty, one tael of silver was roughly equivalent to over 600 yuan in modern currency. Three taels of silver would be nearly 2,000 yuan, which was truly expensive. However, due to the inconvenience of transportation in ancient times, it was indeed difficult to transport river crabs from the Yangtze River area to the capital. Lu Zigang clicked his tongue in amazement, feeling that he was truly fortunate to have such a delicious meal today. He picked up a crab and placed it on Xia Zhelan's plate, smiling as he said, "I had already agreed to carve that jade for you as a way of repaying that fried rice from ten years ago. This time, I was the one who suggested the invitation first, so I'm really sorry to have troubled you for so long."

Xia Zhelan pursed her lips, a sense of anticipation rising in her heart. Would he invite her to dinner again later? So that they could have a give-and-take relationship... But then she saw the young jade carver wipe his hands with a handkerchief, carefully take out a brocade box from his bosom, and place it in front of her.

“Miss Xia, this is my thank-you gift for this meal. But, please open it after I leave, okay?” Lu Zigang said very earnestly.

Xia Zhelan met his deep gaze, her heart pounding, and could only nod in agreement.

This banter melted away the barrier between them, quickly breaking the usual rule of not speaking while eating, and they began chatting while eating and drinking. Xia Zhelan had been away from Suzhou for many years and naturally wanted to know something about Suzhou. Although Lu Zigang wasn't the original, he had a thorough understanding of his past life's memories and answered Xia Zhelan's questions flawlessly. Moreover, because he was actually very knowledgeable, his speech and manner of speaking were different from ordinary people, making him seem more like the scholar that Xia Zhelan admired, which made her beautiful eyes linger on him repeatedly.

When it was completely dark, Xia Zhelan lit the lamp oil on the round table. The bustling restaurant outside the courtyard wall made the courtyard seem even quieter. Lu Zigang suddenly thought of an urgent problem.

He had previously peeked at the compass needle's movement speed and estimated that it would be at least dawn before the needle returned to the Heavenly Cross. Where was he going to sleep tonight?

Penniless, he couldn't even afford an inn, and he was too ashamed to ask Xia Zhelan for money. After enjoying a top-notch meal, he was even less inclined to sleep on the streets. Lu Zigang pondered for a long time before finally deciding to be shameless and pretend to be drunk.

Xia Zhelan watched, both amused and exasperated, as Lu Zigang drank osmanthus-infused liquor one after another, eventually succumbing to the effects and falling asleep on the table. How could she have forgotten to tell him that this osmanthus-infused liquor had a strong aftereffect? ​​She had no choice but to clean up the messy table, then called out to Brother Lu, trying to nudge him, but there was no response.

Her gaze fell on the only remaining brocade box on the table. Xia Zhelan bit her lip and hesitated for a long time before finally reaching out and taking it.

The moment Xia Zhelan opened the brocade box, she gasped. Even in the dim light, she could see the exquisite craftsmanship of the bracelets, and the two openwork jade bracelets placed side by side symbolized a wish to be intertwined. Even a fool would understand the subtle sentiment implied within.

Unable to resist, Xia Zhelan picked up a jade bracelet and examined it closely. Seeing the Zi Gang inscription on the bracelet, her cheeks flushed involuntarily, and she murmured to herself, "Zi Gang... Lu Zi Gang..."

Lu Zigang was awakened by the noise. He was dazed for a moment before realizing that he had been pretending to be drunk, but had actually fallen asleep on the round table in the courtyard. As he sat up, the thick blanket draped over his shoulders slipped down, and the autumn night breeze immediately cleared his muddled mind.

The sky was dark, not even a single star could be seen, only the flickering oil lamp on the table danced uneasily in the autumn wind. Lu Zigang heard the sound of galloping hooves on the outer street and felt a growing unease. It must be late at night; the Renyin Palace Coup should be over by now, and the palace maids who assassinated the Jiajing Emperor should have been captured. Would innocent people still be implicated?

Lu Zigang suddenly remembered that although he didn't know Xia Zhelan's real name in his previous life, his boss had told him that the girl's name was on the list posted at the gate of the imperial city.

With a pale face, Lu Zigang recalled the scenes from his past life. Although the yellow paper did not often appear in his memories, he still managed to find it from the depths of his memory.

Xia Zhelan touched the exquisite bracelet in the brocade box, unable to sleep all night. She knew that letting the young jade carver stay overnight would surely invite gossip and criticism from those who saw it.

But so what? He gave her these shoes, and she loved him in return. Whether or not they observed proper etiquette was between the two of them, and had nothing to do with anyone else.

However, she couldn't shamelessly help him into the house to rest, so she could only cover him with a thick blanket and sit in the dark, deep in thought. Hearing the commotion in the courtyard, she put on her clothes and came out, shyly lowering her head, wanting to explain that she hadn't woken him.

Before she could speak, the man had already rushed in front of her, grabbed her shoulders, and asked urgently, "Miss Xia, are you called Xia Zhelan?"

Xia Zhelan assumed Lu Zigang had learned her maiden name from the owner of the Silent Shop, and her shyness intensified, her heart pounding. She could only nod haphazardly in agreement. Unexpectedly, the next moment, her hand was grabbed by him, and he pulled her towards the courtyard gate. Xia Zhelan swallowed her gasp. She sensed something was amiss. The nights in the capital were usually deathly quiet, with the sound of horses' hooves only heard when something major happened. But as they exited the back gate, they heard someone shouting, "The Embroidered Uniform Guard is on duty, all bystanders keep clear!" coming from the restaurant in front.

When Xia Zhelan heard that voice, a chill ran down her spine. In the common folk, the Embroidered Uniform Guard was synonymous with hell, and seeing Lu Zigang's alarmed demeanor, she knew they were after her. Her lips trembled as she asked incredulously, "What happened?"

Lu Zigang struggled to find his way in the darkness, cursing under his breath. The Renyin Palace Coup was a rebellion launched by several palace maids who, unable to withstand the tyranny of the Jiajing Emperor, rose up in resistance. They failed to strangle him and instead caused a huge uproar. Now that the coup had occurred, the Jiajing Emperor was sure to be furious and would thoroughly investigate everyone in Consort Duan's palace. Xia Zhelan, who was supposed to be on duty, was absent and had been replaced. The already paranoid and easily frightened Jiajing Emperor would certainly order her arrest.

What to do? The capital is heavily guarded, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard is everywhere. Even if he takes Xia Zhelan to the Silent Shop to find the owner, the latter probably can't protect her. Besides, the owner is probably used to every reincarnation of Fusu dying in some kind of undeserved disaster. Someone like Xia Zhelan, who was only given a piece of jade when she was young and then abandoned, certainly wouldn't give him a second glance now.

He could almost hear the footsteps behind him. The Imperial Guards would know they hadn't been gone long once they entered the small courtyard; the blanket he had been wearing was still warm. Lu Zigang stared blankly at the world of more than five hundred years ago, a sense of powerlessness spreading through his heart, making even breathing feel heavy.

"Brother Lu...you should go first..." Xia Zhelan said breathlessly in a low voice. She was incredibly intelligent and knew something must have happened in the palace; the Imperial Guards were looking for her, not Lu Zigang who had just arrived in the capital. Xia Zhelan felt the person in front of her stop, and a pang of sadness washed over her.

So be it, they were destined to be apart in this life.

Xia Zhelan thought for a moment and handed back the brocade box she had been holding in her arms. Luckily, she hadn't let go of it all evening, which was why she had brought it with her. "Brother Lu, these bracelets... I'll return them to you..." Her voice was filled with extreme reluctance. She loved these exquisitely carved jade bracelets dearly, and even more so, she loved the affection contained within them.

How can we express our deep bond? With two bracelets wrapped around our wrists...

But at this moment, she had to harden her heart and could only sigh at the cruel twist of fate.

Feeling the brocade box being taken away, Xia Zhelan lowered her head, not wanting the other person to see her expression as if she was about to cry. However, the next second she found that her hands, which she was trying to pull back, were being held tightly.

Lu Zigang took out the pair of jade bracelets from the box and quickly slipped them onto her wrists. The pair of openwork jade bracelets with intertwined branches on her slender, fair wrists made her hands, which were not particularly soft, look as precious as jewels.

How can we express our deep bond? With two bracelets wrapped around our wrists...

Seeing Xia Zhelan's astonished eyes looking at him, Lu Zigang reached out and wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes, and asked in a low voice, "Would you like to come with me? To leave this place?"

He didn't want history to repeat itself; he was going to take a gamble.

Xia Zhelan didn't know what Lu Zigang meant, but she nodded subconsciously. Even though she knew the Imperial Guards' hooves were approaching like thunder, her heart calmed down. Regardless of the outcome, the pair of jade pendants had soothed her resentment.

She watched quietly as the young jade carver took a compass from his pocket, pulled her hand and placed it on the compass, and then the compass emitted a dazzling white light.

Sanqing and Minghong got into a fight inside the Silent Shop. Minghong, not wanting to be cooped up in the cramped, dark room, unlocked the door and flew out from the inner room. Sanqing was furious. Ever since Minghong arrived, it had felt it had the arduous mission of keeping an eye on the kid, and seeing him trying to escape, it naturally gave chase.

The two birds got into another fight, but fortunately they were both intelligent and knew that the antiques in the Silent House were priceless and not to be trifled with, so they were very restrained and didn't break anything, but it looked very dangerous.

A sudden loud bang startled the two birds, who quickly separated. Lu Zigang, who had suddenly appeared inside the Silent Shop, was kneeling on one knee. It was Lu Zigang who had just punched the ground.

Sanqing landed on Lu Zigang's shoulder and nuzzled his face comfortably with her little head.

Lu Zigang simply plopped down on the cold ground, stroking the soft feathers of the Three Pure Ones to calm the pain in his heart. He couldn't calm down for a long time.

The compass simply couldn't take Xia Zhelan back to the modern world.

He couldn't imagine how she could have watched him disappear. His body became translucent, and although she was surprised, she still looked at him with joy, happy that he had escaped. He was helpless; no matter how he tried to grab her hand, it would only slip past her wrist. He couldn't even touch her cold bracelet, let alone her warm hand.

Lu Zigang sat there silently for a long time until dawn broke. Then the old man at the newsstand next door turned on the radio, and the announcer read the morning news in a clear and articulate voice.

"Yesterday, a Ming Dynasty tomb was discovered in Yanjiao, Beijing, yielding several precious artifacts, including a pair of openwork jade bracelets with intertwined branches. The bracelets bear a clear mark of Lu Zigang on the inside, and experts have preliminarily identified them as rare jade bracelet carvings by Lu Zigang, a famous jade carver during the Jiajing period..."

Lu Zigang snapped out of his daze, stumbled to his feet, rummaged through the counter for his phone, and pulled up the news article. When he saw the photo of the jade bracelets, he collapsed back into his chair. Apart from the patina from being buried in the soil, the style, patterns, and size were exactly the same as the pair of jade bracelets he had given away yesterday.

He chuckled softly, holding his head, ignoring Sanqing jumping around him with concern.

Did he not change history?

No, in some ways, things have changed.

But... this isn't what he wanted...

(End of this chapter)