Chapter 106: Childhood Sweetheart Qin Keqing, Pretty Senior Sister Grinding Medicine at the New Shop

The air suddenly went quiet.

The gazes of the three people in the room were all fixed on someone.

"It's Jade Bamboo! Bamboo as in bamboo!"

Luo Zijun hurriedly defended himself.

"Jade Bamboo, a type of cultivated bamboo, and my friend wants to buy it, not me."

The room went quiet again for a moment.

Bi'er blinked her large eyes and said, "Young Master Luo, but what this servant heard upstairs just now sounded exactly like Jade Foot."

Luo Zijun said immediately, "You must have misheard. There are only bamboo illustrations, how could there be any Jade Foot Illustration? Isn't a jade foot a foot? What kind of book sells feet specifically, and who would buy it?"

"But..."

"Bi'er, go pour some tea."

Just as Bi'er was about to speak, Liu Chujian hurriedly interrupted her.

"Oh."

The little maid gave someone a strange look, then turned and went into the inner room.

Xiao Lan also hurriedly followed and left.

There was a silence in the room.

Liu Chujian was the first to break the awkwardness; her eyes were full of smiles as she asked softly, "Young Master Luo, why did you suddenly come to the Inner City today?"

Luo Zijun said, "I moved to the Inner City to live with my sister and brother-in-law."

Liu Chujian was delighted to hear this and said, "Really? Young Master Luo has moved to the Inner City to live? Will you be living in the Inner City from now on?"

Luo Zijun nodded.

Liu Chujian's eyes were filled with joyful light. Seeing that he still seemed somewhat uncomfortable, she said softly, "Young Master Luo, shall we go upstairs to talk?"

Luo Zijun said, "No, I still have things to do."

The smile on Liu Chujian's face faded slightly. She was silent for a moment, then looked at him with complex eyes and said, "Chujian just wanted to know why you haven't come to see Chujian since that day. Also, why did you help Chujian redeem herself?"

Luo Zijun glanced at her and explained, "Those few days, I was busy with other matters, so I didn't go. As for helping you redeem yourself, it was naturally because I was in urgent need of money back then, and you were generous enough to offer help, even willing to pawn your own jewelry."

He paused.

He added, "Since you were so kind and righteous toward me, helping you redeem yourself was just a small favor."

"A small favor?"

Liu Chujian gave a bitter smile, looking at him with gentle eyes, and said, "Those poems of yours are worth more than ten thousand gold; I fear other scholars could not write even one in their entire lives. To you, is that really just a small favor?"

Luo Zijun shrugged and said nothing more.

Seeing this, Liu Chujian did not say anything more either. She paused, then solemnly folded her hands at her waist, lowered her head, bowed deeply to him, and said softly, "I will keep your kindness in my heart, Young Master, and will never forget it."

Luo Zijun said, "Miss Chujian, you are being too formal. We are friends, there is no need for such courtesy."

"Friends?"

A gentle smile appeared on Liu Chujian's face: "It is my great fortune to be friends with the talented Luo."

Luo Zijun looked at the sky outside and said, "I still have things to do..."

Seeing him like this again, almost unable to wait to leave as soon as he finished speaking, Liu Chujian sighed inwardly. She forced a smile onto her face: "Since you still have things to do, Young Master, I will not delay you. The book you gave me that day, I haven't sold it; I plan to find someone to print it myself and then sell it at the bookstore..."

Her gentle, water-like eyes looked at the handsome young man before her, and she said softly, "When the time comes, we can split the silver earned, okay?"

Luo Zijun said, "No need. I said before that the book was a gift for you. Whatever it sells for in the future is yours; you don't need to give it to me."

Liu Chujian stared at him blankly and asked softly, "Will you... come again in the future?"

"Of course I will."

Luo Zijun said without hesitation, "I definitely will. I still need to write books to make money in the future. If you can find the channels to print and sell them yourself, Miss Chujian, then we will be business partners, and I will naturally come often."

As soon as these words were spoken, the light returned to the eyes of the young girl whose expression had just dimmed.

"Really? Will you still write books, Young Master?"

Her face was full of joy, her eyes shining brightly; her already beautiful face was now even more charming and moving because of her happiness.

Luo Zijun said, "Of course I will. Who would complain about having too much money?"

A naive and innocent smile appeared on Liu Chujian's face. She suddenly extended her slender, onion-white little finger and said, "Young Master Luo, let's pinky swear as an agreement for our cooperation. We must never go back on our word, okay?"

Luo Zijun was stunned for a moment: "Pinky swear? Do we not need to sign a contract?"

Liu Chujian shook her head, then blinked her beautiful, touching eyes and smiled: "Do you not trust me, Young Master?"

"Of course not."

Luo Zijun hesitated for a moment, then looked at her extended slender little finger and had no choice but to extend his own, gently hooking it with hers.

Why does this feel so childish, like returning to childhood?

Their little fingers touched gently, and then, they hooked together.

Thus, the agreement was reached.

The young girl smiled sweetly, and two faint blushes quietly climbed onto her clear, pink cheeks, making her look as beautiful as a flower under the glow of the sunset.

"Miss Chujian, it is getting late, I should be going."

Luo Zijun looked at the sky outside, did not delay any longer, and waved goodbye.

He still had to find a martial artist's shop.

The young girl nodded gently, watching him with gentle eyes. She followed him to the door and stood there, watching his back as he gradually walked away until he disappeared around the street corner in the distance.

She stood quietly in the golden sunset for a long time.

In her sleeve, the slender little finger that had touched his felt a slight warmth.

"Miss..."

At this moment, Bi'er walked out from the inner room, looking at her with some concern.

The young lady was stunned for a moment longer, then said softly, "Tidy up. There is a banquet at the Jia Mansion tonight, and we must go to play the zither."

Bi'er could not help but sigh, saying in a low voice, "Is Young Lady working so hard to earn money still for his sake? But, he seems to only treat Young Lady as..."

She did not dare to continue.

The young lady seemed not to have heard her words, her gaze still blankly fixed outside, at the place where that figure had long since disappeared.

On another quiet street.

Luo Zijun finally found a martial artist's shop.

However, for just five types of medicinal herbs, it cost him a full fifteen taels of silver; it was indeed ridiculously expensive.

And it looked like the quality wasn't even that great.

It seems the saying "the poor study, the rich practice martial arts" really isn't just talk.

For children from poor families, I fear there truly is no other way out besides studying.

Heartache is heartache, but cultivation must continue.

At worst, he would just write more books in the future.

However...

He had previously prepared to write *Dream of the Red Chamber* and *Spring Dreams of the Red Chamber*, but looking at it now, he certainly cannot write them.

It really is ridiculous.

Returning to the Anguo Mansion, the sky was already turning dark.

Zhiyuan brought over a sumptuous dinner and incidentally told him that there was class tomorrow morning.

"Young Master needs to go early tomorrow and prepare well. I heard that several young ladies in the mansion, having heard of Young Master's talent and the interesting nature of your lectures, are also planning to come and attend class tomorrow."

Luo Zijun asked, "Which young ladies?"

Zhiyuan said, "Besides the Third Miss, there is Young Lady Qiu Ning, Young Lady Qiu Shuang, and Young Lady Yiyi and Young Lady Fangfei from the Su Guo Fu. The Third Miss said that Young Lady Yingchun from the Jia Mansion will also come tomorrow."

"Jia Mansion? Yingchun?"

Luo Zijun's heart stirred, but his face remained calm as he nodded and said, "I understand."

Zhiyuan chatted with Xiaohuan for a few more moments before withdrawing.

"Jia Yingchun..."

This name, along with her personality and ending, surfaced in Luo Zijun's mind.

"Gentle and kind, timid and cowardly, nicknamed 'Two-Blockhead', her ending is quite tragic. Because her father owed the Sun Family five thousand taels of silver, she was taken to settle the debt and married to Sun Shaozu. Not long after the marriage, she was abused to death by him..."

She is indeed a pitiful woman.

Originally a young lady of a Duke's mansion, yet she met such a miserable end.

I wonder if her fate will change here.

Luo Zijun thought to himself while eating.

After finishing his meal, he had Xiaohuan close the door, then went to boil the medicine for his bath.

He had been delayed today, so the Medicine Bath was a bit late.

However, the effect was very obvious.

With the five herbs bought today added, as soon as his body entered the thick medicinal broth, he felt a burning pain all over.

This pain came fiercely and went quickly.

At the same time, the exhaustion from a full day of cultivation retreated along with it.

As he soaked, he fell comfortably asleep.

Then, he had a dream.

In the dream, he was running in an alley with his short little legs, crying as he ran.

Su Qingling, wearing a white dress, was chasing behind him with a stick in her hand, shouting angrily as she pursued, "Luo Zijun! Tell me, what did you do at Qin Keqing's house just now? Did you kiss her?"

"I didn't..."

"Did you let her kiss you?"

"It... it was she who insisted on kissing me... she said I looked so handsome..."

"Despicable! You stand still, I'm going to beat you to death!"

"Su Qingling, didn't you kiss me too?"

"You should be grateful that I kissed you! If she kisses you, I'll beat you to death first, then go beat her to death!"

"Ah..."

Luo Zijun suddenly tripped and fell.

Su Qingling immediately straddled him, waving the stick in her hand and began whipping him.

Then she suddenly grabbed his crotch and said angrily, "I'll turn you into a eunuch!"

"Ah..."

Luo Zijun woke up from the dream with a start. At this moment, the medicinal broth in the tub, which had been scalding hot, was already ice cold.

He was frightened out of his wits.

Although he was awake, the fear from the dream still lingered in his heart.

That girl... was she that fierce since she was little?

Suddenly, his heart jolted again.

"Qin Keqing... Qin Keqing..."

This name...

Could it be...

When this name first surfaced in his mind, he hadn't paid it any attention.

Now that he knew of the existence of the Jia Mansion, and knew of the existence of Tanchun, Yingchun, and Lin Daiyu, thinking of this name again now, he naturally understood.

!

Qin Keqing, the adopted daughter of Qin Bangye, whose official name was Jianmei, courtesy name Keqing, and childhood name Ke'er.

She was born graceful and delicate, with an extremely beautiful appearance, like a combination of Baochai and Daiyu; her personality was gentle and peaceful, and she was deeply loved by the Jia family for how she conducted herself.

However, her ending was very tragic.

Because her appearance was too beautiful, she was forced by her own father-in-law, and after enduring humiliation to preserve the peace, she finally could not bear the shame and hanged herself.

What was depicted on television clearly only understood the surface and did not know the pity of it.

A woman of that era, married into a noble mansion, with a humble family background, while the other party was the head of the Jia family, holding high position and great power—how could a weak woman resist?

Judging from her falling ill after the incident was exposed, to her final hanging, as well as her usual personality and the dream she gave to Wang Xifeng after her death, this woman was definitely no ordinary person; how could she have voluntarily committed such a shameful act?

Clearly, she was isolated and helpless, and merely forced.

Whenever Luo Zijun read about this woman in the past, his heart would be filled with pity and regret.

He never expected that he would meet her here.

And he even less expected that, just like Su Qingling, she was also his childhood playmate.

At this time, judging by her age, she should not yet be married. However, according to the book, by the time Yuanchun was promoted to Imperial Concubine and the Jia family built the Daguanyuan, Qin Keqing had long been married.

It seems that some of the characters and events here are still very different from the book.

However, this is nothing strange; after all, this is not just the world of Dream of the Red Chamber, but also includes the White Snake, Green Snake, and Xu Xian.

If one were to be strictly accurate, the Begonia Poetry Society had not yet been established at this time, and the Four Great Families did not even include the Bai Family.

Therefore, he still cannot be certain that Qin Keqing will definitely marry into the Jia Mansion in the future.

But regardless, if that day truly comes, he will certainly find a way to prevent this tragedy.

Luo Zijun pondered secretly in his heart.

Unfortunately, he is currently just as isolated and helpless as she is; in front of behemoths like the Four Great Families, he does not even count as an ant.

He must continue to work hard at martial arts.

At the same time, he must obtain some reputation or status as soon as possible.

Only then would he at least have some right to speak.

Previously, he lived with his sister and brother-in-law in the Outer City, fearing that enemies would seek revenge in the shadows, so he dared not become famous; but now that they live in the Bai Family, he naturally does not need to fear those things.

The more powerful he becomes now, the more the Bai Family will value him, and he will be even safer instead.

Of course, he needs to bind himself slightly to the Bai Family.

Otherwise, at a critical moment, it is impossible for them to offend the Jia Mansion—also one of the Four Great Families—for the sake of an outsider like him.

Moreover, the Jia Mansion is currently at its zenith, with their young lady having been promoted to Imperial Concubine.

But how can he bind himself to the Bai Family?

Just knowing that Third Miss is definitely not enough.

"Young Master, you have been soaking for a long time."

At this moment, Xiaohuan knocked on the door from outside and called out worriedly.

Luo Zijun only then remembered that the medicinal liquid in the barrel had long since turned cold, and he had been soaking in the cold water for a long time.

He hurriedly climbed out of the bath barrel.

He rinsed off in the courtyard and changed into a set of clean clothes.

Then he went to the backyard and continued to practice the Liehuo Finger for an hour.

"Sss—"

At this time, the fire blade on his thumb was already two inches long and even sharper.

He tried cutting into a stone and was actually able to carve a deep mark.

Cutting tree branches and fruits was even more effortless.

He must continue to practice!

Once the fire blade grows to about three inches long, it can leave his thumb and be shot out.

At that time, it will be like a flying dagger or hidden weapon.

Its power will naturally be incomparable to what it is now.

He returned to the room.

Xiaohuan had already washed up, and was waiting for him on the bed, hugging her knees with her bare, white, tender feet, looking at him with eager eyes.

"Go to sleep, don't think about nonsense tonight."

Luo Zijun looked at her watery eyes, her red little mouth, and her eager expression, and suddenly felt a bit of kidney pain.

This little girl is becoming more and more like a little demoness who could suck the marrow from a person's bones.

"Young Master, this servant isn't thinking of anything else; this servant is just waiting for you to sleep."

Xiaohuan pouted her little mouth, her eyes filled with a smile, and she hurriedly knelt to help him pull back the quilt, looking a little smug: "Is Young Master starting to be afraid of me now?"

"Afraid, afraid to the point of trembling."

Luo Zijun climbed into the quilt and pulled down the curtains.

The little girl giggled, dove into the quilt, crawled onto his chest, pressed against it, and looked at him with her pitch-black, lively, watery eyes.

Luo Zijun ignored her and took out the Copper Mirror.

Sure enough, there was another message.

Fairy of Yaochi: 【Can't sleep】

Luo Zijun swiped his finger and replied.

Dongfang Junnan: 【If you can't sleep, can you answer my question?】

Fairy of the Jade Pool: 【Can't sleep】

Dongfang Junnan: 【Get lost】

A moment passed.

Fairy of the Jade Pool: 【Can't sleep】

Dongfang Junnan: 【That's how ugly monsters are; they think they are fairies, but when they look in the mirror, they see they are actually ugly monsters, so they can't sleep】

The other party did not reply again.

Luo Zijun put away the Copper Mirror and did not reply again either.

So it was a lunatic.

He wondered if this Copper Mirror could also be used to chat with other people.

Could it be that he had to drip blood on it again?

Drip blood once, add one person?

If that were really the case, it would be quite perverted.

Forget it, time to sleep.

He had to get up early tomorrow to attend class at the school.

He hoped to leave a good impression on those noble people, so that if he encountered any trouble later, perhaps they might casually offer him some help.

"Young Master..."

"Sleep, there are things to do tomorrow morning."

Luo Zijun reached his hand into the little maid's bodice and closed his eyes.

"Oh."

Xiaohuan hugged him tightly and also closed her eyes.

Outside the window, the night was deep and quiet.

At the same time.

Two streets away from Anguo Mansion and Su Guo Fu, at the corner of a small alley, a new Pharmacy had opened today.

It was cold and deserted.

No firecrackers were set off, and no guests were invited.

No one even knew yet that this was a Pharmacy.

The name of the Pharmacy was Bao'an Hall.

On the pillars on both sides of the Pharmacy entrance hung a pair of couplets.

The couplets read: May there be no illness in the world, what matter if the medicine on the shelves gathers dust.

The couplets were carved on a Wooden Plaque.

But the Wooden Plaque did not fit the pillars well, looking as if it had been dismantled from somewhere else.

At this time, the shop door was already closed.

However, inside the shop, a faint light seemed to be lit.

At a table in the corner.

A cold, aloof young girl dressed in a plain white dress was sitting there, quietly pounding medicine.

The swell of her chest trembled proudly and slightly with the motion of pounding the medicine.

That cold and beautiful face, under the reflection of the lamp light, was fair, delicate, and as lovely as a flower.

She looked clearly cold and elegant, like a small flower in a Yougu, but for some reason, at times she also looked charming and enchanting, exceptionally alluring.

"Sigh..."

At this moment, a rather desolate sigh suddenly came from upstairs.

It sounded like a desperate groan before death.

"My last little bit of... coffin money..."

(End of this chapter)