Chapter 90: A Kiss, Helping Her Redeem Herself

Outside the window, the night grew heavy.

Luo Zijun lay on the bed, eyes open, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Although he had already made his decision.

Everything here kept surfacing in his mind, making it hard for his heart to settle.

The Young Maid lay in his arms, also unable to sleep.

"Young Master, do you really want to marry them? But they look so young."

"One is a bit young, but the other one is quite big."

Luo Zijun replied casually.

The Young Maid was stunned for a moment before she realized what he meant, and she said shyly, "Young Master, I was talking about their age."

"Age? Then there is even less need to worry."

Luo Zijun said absentmindedly.

The Young Maid thought for a moment and said, "That's true, many wealthy families have even younger maids serving their masters."

Immediately, she hurriedly said in a shy voice, "Young Master, I, I didn't..."

Luo Zijun was lost in thought and did not speak again.

The Young Maid suddenly panicked, and with a flushed face, she said, "Young Master, I... I really didn't... I, I can let you check..."

Luo Zijun came back to his senses and asked, "Check what?"

The Young Maid's cheeks were burning hot; she pressed against his neck and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, "Check... check my, innocence..."

"No need, Young Master trusts you."

Luo Zijun rubbed her burning little face.

"But..."

"Sleep."

"Young Master, I... I want..."

"Snore, snore..."

Luo Zijun immediately closed his eyes.

But soon, he opened them again: "Xiaohuan, what are you doing?"

The little girl's head suddenly shrank into the quilt, and she said gloomily, "Young Master, keep snoring, I'll play by myself, hmph."

Saying this, she ignored him.

Luo Zijun suddenly stiffened; he wanted to kick her away, but he suddenly remembered that he should be leaving here soon.

While he hesitated, it was already too late.

In the room, it became quiet.

"Xiaohuan, you say, if one day, Young Master... hiss... if I were gone..."

After a long while, he suddenly said.

The Young Maid had no time to pay attention to him and pretended not to hear.

Outside the window, the night grew even heavier.

Tianxian Pavilion.

On the street outside the main entrance, a figure wearing a thin Confucian robe was standing in the shadows under a large tree, shivering and craning their neck in anticipation.

"Brother Luo, I beg you, please come quickly..."

Luo Zijun, of course, did not come.

He was currently lying in a warm, tightly wrapped quilt, feeling warm and comfortable.

"Swish—"

In the dark night, a meteor streaked across the sky.

The spring rain had long since ceased.

A night bird emerged from a dark, narrow cave, shook the rainwater from its feathers, and flew into the night sky.

It was already the third watch.

Luo Zijun lay on the bed for a while longer before getting up to relieve himself.

When he returned to the room.

He glanced at the innermost room opposite and thought to himself: I wonder what those two snake demons are doing now?

"Hiccup..."

The Young Maid lying on the bed hiccuped and then got up.

Luo Zijun entered the room and said, "It's cold outside, just relieve yourself in the room, I won't look."

The Young Maid said shyly, "I, I am going to brush my teeth..."

After saying this, she lowered her head and ran out.

Luo Zijun did not practice tonight; he had been full of worries and unable to sleep, but now he was suddenly a bit tired, closed his eyes, and soon fell asleep.

The next day.

When he got up to wash, the White Snake and the Green Snake had not yet risen.

His brother-in-law had already left early.

Xiaohuan and his sister were picking vegetables in the small courtyard.

"Zijun."

Seeing him about to go out, his sister called him over, looked at him with a serious face, and said, "Have you decided? Your brother-in-law and I discussed it last night and feel you should wait a bit longer. After all, you have only just met..."

"Sister, I have already decided."

Bathing in the morning sunlight, Luo Zijun said with a calm face, "Pick a good day, as soon as possible."

He could not delay any longer.

If he delayed any further, he might never be able to make up his mind again.

Luo Jiaorong said, "If you have truly decided, then your sister will go and inform the neighbors today, so they stop guessing wildly."

Luo Zijun fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

After stepping out the door, he suddenly did not know where he was going today.

The Academy was closed, and the Martial Arts Hall was closed.

Even if they were not closed, there was no need for him to go there anymore.

Since he had already decided to leave, why go?

After standing blankly in the alley for a while, he continued walking forward.

"Let's go to Bao'an Hall."

"Then, go to Tianxian Pavilion one more time."

Whatever is owed, let's try to pay it all back.

The sun was bright.

People came and went on the street, bustling and lively.

But as Luo Zijun looked at all this, his heart grew increasingly melancholy.

He arrived at Bao'an Hall.

The master was not there, and his senior sister was sitting alone behind the counter, resting her chin on her hands in a daze; after seeing him, she did not pay him any mind.

On the counter beside her sat a small vase, with freshly picked peach blossoms inserted inside.

On the pink petals were crystal-clear water droplets.

The morning sunlight spilled in.

Her cold and exquisite face was as delicate as the pink petals, and her pitch-black, beautiful eyes were as clear as the water droplets.

Her appearance and temperament were so cold and elegant, like a small white flower blooming in a Yougu, quiet and untouched by dust.

"Senior sister."

Luo Zijun walked to the counter and leaned over it, his cheeks very close to hers, and staring into her eyes, he said softly, "If one day I leave this place, will you be sad?"

Su Qingling rolled her eyes and continued to stare blankly.

Luo Zijun did not speak again, just staring at her like this, watching her in a daze; in his pitch-black pupils, her beautiful face, cold as snow and delicate as a flower, was reflected.

The morning sun fell upon the two of them, as if plating them in a layer of golden radiance.

Two pairs of eyes.

One pair unfocused, the other staring at the other.

For a long time.

Su Qingling finally straightened her body, her beautiful eyes looking at him coldly as she said, "I will cut your things off first, keep them pickled in a jar, and return them to you when you come back."

"???"

Luo Zijun was stunned for a moment and said, "What things?"

Su Qingling ignored him, picked up the medicine jar and herbs from under the counter, and began to pound the medicine with a "thump, thump, thump," the pride on her chest beginning to bounce proudly.

Luo Zijun watched for a few moments and said, "Senior sister, have you recorded the money for those poisons from before?"

Su Qingling paused and said, "One hundred taels."

This time, Luo Zijun did not haggle, nor did he say anything else; he just nodded and said, "Record everything I owe you clearly, and I will pay you back all at once when the time comes."

Su Qingling was slightly startled; she stared at him for a while, put down the pestle in her hand, and said, "You do the pounding."

Luo Zijun did not speak, walked silently into the counter, and picked up the pestle.

Then he began to pound.

Su Qingling stood beside him, looking at his handsome face illuminated by the morning sun, and after a moment of silence, she spoke, "What is wrong with you?"

Luo Zijun smiled slightly: "Nothing wrong, it's just..."

He lowered his head and continued to pound the medicine.

For some reason, at this moment, facing the girl's sudden gentle gaze and inquiry, he suddenly found it hard to restrain his emotions.

Silence for a moment.

Su Qingling suddenly said again, "The money you owe me can be repaid in other ways; you don't need to be afraid."

Luo Zijun felt a bitter smile in his heart.

This girl still thought he was worried about the money he owed her.

"What way?"

He turned his head to look at her, finding it somewhat amusing: "Pinching your bottom, pinching your chest? Or peeping? Or, hitting your eyes?"

Su Qingling was expressionless: "None of those."

Luo Zijun was suddenly a bit curious: "Then what is it?"

Su Qingling said: "Kissing."

Luo Zijun was startled and said: "Kissing?"

The expression on Su Qingling's face was faint: "One kiss, one wen; you currently owe me a total of one hundred twenty-three taels, four qian, and three wen."

Luo Zijun: "..."

"That... who kisses whom?"

"Either way." "..."

"Kiss where?"

"Either is fine."

"..."

Luo Zijun opened his mouth, feeling that he was increasingly unable to keep up with this girl's train of thought.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

He continued to lower his head and pound the medicine, ignoring her further.

Su Qingling watched him quietly from the side, also not speaking again.

During this time, a customer came to buy medicine.

The two worked in tacit cooperation, one fetching the medicine and the other calculating the bill and giving change.

At midday.

!

Luo Zijun went out to buy lunch.

The two ate in silence, not speaking.

After finishing the meal, Luo Zijun subconsciously prepared to go to the backyard to practice boxing, but quickly realized.

Since he was leaving, was there still a need to practice boxing?

"Forget it, I'll pay off the debt."

He took the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone from the inner room, sat down at the table, and began to write a new story.

He ground the ink, spread the paper, and lifted the brush to dip it in ink.

After pondering for a moment, the brush fell onto the rice paper, and the thick ink formed characters.

Title: "Qiannu Youhun".

A scholar meets a female ghost; human and ghost fall in love; where affection is focused, one fears nothing even in death.

This time, Luo Zijun decided it would no longer be a tragedy.

Sheet after sheet of snow-white rice paper was soon filled with elegant and vigorous small black ink characters.

By the time he finished writing, it was already evening.

With this story, it should be enough to pay back the silver to Senior Sister and that Liu.

"Hmph."

A cold voice suddenly came from behind him.

Luo Zijun put down his brush, blew on the ink characters on the rice paper, turned his head to look at his Senior Sister, who had a cold and slightly mocking expression, and said, "What? Do you think it's poorly written?"

Su Qingling said coldly, "Do you want to be drained by a ghost again now?"

"It's just a story."

Luo Zijun put away the rice paper and ignored her again.

At this moment, Su Dafang returned from outside, put down his Medicine Chest, poured a cup of tea to drink first, then glanced at the two of them, sensed the atmosphere was wrong, and asked, "What, are you two fighting again?"

Luo Zijun stood up and said, "No, I don't fight with Senior Sister anymore."

Su Dafang was stunned upon hearing this and asked suspiciously, "Why?"

Luo Zijun said, "I feel I shouldn't hit Senior Sister. Senior Sister is so beautiful and treats me so well; if she hits me again in the future, I won't hit back."

Su Dafang was dazed for a moment, looked at him very seriously, and said, "Zijun, is your brain broken? Do you want your master to take your pulse?"

Luo Zijun was speechless: "Master, isn't it right for me not to hit back?"

Su Dafang said, "Of course it's not right. This girl hits you, how can you not hit back? If you don't hit back, it's like she's hitting a piece of wood; there's no sense of accomplishment. When this girl gets angry later, what will happen if she hits me?"

Luo Zijun: "..."

"I'm going home."

He packed up the rice paper, preparing to go to the Tianxian Pavilion first.

Su Dafang said, "No Medicine Bath?"

"I didn't cultivate today, I'm leaving."

Luo Zijun waved his hand and walked out of the shop. After walking a few steps, he turned back to look at the two and said, "Master, Senior Sister..."

Su Dafang looked at him and said, "What is it?"

Luo Zijun paused, a smile appearing on his face: "Nothing, I'm going back. You two remember to eat dinner tonight, don't go hungry."

After saying this, he turned and left.

At this moment.

The setting sun went down, and the evening glow filled the sky.

So what if he is gone?

No matter who leaves, the world remains this world.

Isn't that so?

"What's wrong with that kid today? Why does he feel so strange?"

Su Dafang frowned and muttered in the room.

Su Qingling ignored him, walked into the counter, stayed for a while, then suddenly collected the money from the drawer and went upstairs.

"Did they quarrel?"

Su Dafang was full of confusion.

Then he shook his head and muttered to himself, "No, these two little things have been fighting since they were small. If it were just a quarrel or a fight, that shouldn't be it."

At dusk, the streets were exceptionally lively.

Luo Zijun did not dare to pass by Wang Shen's stall again; he went around a few streets and arrived at the Tianxian Pavilion.

Just as he was about to turn into the side alley, Shui Shui, who was soliciting customers at the main entrance, suddenly saw him and immediately said loudly, "Young Master Luo!"

Luo Zijun had no choice but to walk over.

Shui Shui grabbed him, her little face stern and full of resentment: "Young Master Luo, you liar! Last time you tricked me by saying that once you finished seeing Chujian, you would come find me. You made me wait in my room for such a long time, and I even wore the bodice you like the most!"

Luo Zijun looked surprised: "Ah, why don't I remember that?"

Just then, from the railing upstairs, the resentful scolding of Miss Mei'er suddenly came down: "Young Master Luo, you big liar! You made me wait so long last time! Come up here, I want to teach you a good lesson in bed!"

Luo Zijun: "..."

At this moment, Liu Mama came out of the room, swinging her handkerchief and swaying her waist. She looked up and glared at the floor above, then glared at Shui Shui and said: "What are you shouting about! What are you shouting about! Don't scare Young Master Luo! If Young Master Luo doesn't come to see you, think about the reasons yourselves—is it because you didn't dress up beautifully, because your words weren't pleasant, or because you were acting like wolves and tigers and scared Young Master Luo away? All you know is how to shout all day long. Besides wiggling your hips and showing skin, remember to improve your inner beauty; then Young Master Luo will naturally come to appreciate you!"

The girls were all scolded into silence.

The girls who had been swaying their waists and batting their eyes at the people below from the second-floor railing also stopped immediately.

"Young Master Luo, let's go, don't pay them any mind!"

Liu Mama immediately brought Luo Zijun inside.

Upon reaching a corner of the room, Liu Mama lowered her voice: "Is Young Master Luo here to see Chujian again today?"

Luo Zijun said: "Yes, I have some matters to discuss with her."

Liu Mama sighed suddenly and said: "Young Master Luo, during this period, Chujian has been going to the homes of wealthy families in the Inner City and Outer City to play the zither and earn money. Here at my Tianxian Pavilion, besides you, Young Master Luo, she hasn't seen any other guests. Yesterday, she suddenly told me that once she earns enough money, she plans to redeem her contract and leave this place. Sigh, I really can't bear to see her go."

Luo Zijun was stunned for a moment and asked: "How much money does Miss Chujian need to redeem her contract?"

Liu Mama glanced at him, suddenly smiled, and said: "Why, is Young Master Luo planning to help her redeem her contract?"

Luo Zijun did not deny it and said: "I do not have that much silver for the time being."

Liu Mama looked left and right, then suddenly leaned into his ear and whispered: "Young Master Luo, let me tell you the truth. Chujian was once a Young Lady of an official's family. Because something happened to her family, she came here to sign a contract and sell her talents to earn money. As far as I know, the silver Chujian earns is all used to help the maids and servants from her former household redeem their contracts. When her family met with disaster, the maids and servants were sold off cheaply, and many were sold to Brothels. Chujian couldn't bear it; at first, she borrowed a lot of money from friends and relatives to redeem some of them, and she has been paying off those debts ever since..."

Luo Zijun listened silently, and the image of that slender, gentle figure couldn't help but surface in his mind. He also couldn't help but recall that day when she took the golden hairpin from her head and offered all her jewelry and silver to him.

"Sigh, I admire and respect her from the bottom of my heart. If she wants to redeem her contract, I certainly won't stop her; I only hope she can live well in the future."

"Actually, among those wealthy families, who cares about the lives of maids and servants? If something goes slightly wrong, they are beaten to death and thrown into wells, or bought, sold, and gifted away at will. They don't treat those Young Maids as human beings at all. A mistress like Chujian is impossible to find even with a lantern..."

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: "Liu Mama, besides Miss Chujian, who is the most popular in your Tianxian Pavilion?"

Liu Mama said: "Naturally, it is Ziwei. That girl is also an obedient, good girl. She has the looks and the talent; she plays the jade flute in a way that sounds like weeping and pleading. Why does Young Master Luo ask this..."

"Can I see her today?"

"This..."

Liu Mama hesitated, forced a smile on her face, and said: "Young Master Luo, you should also know that Ziwei is currently our Tianxian Pavilion's Flower Chant, and she might even compete for the title of Flower Courtesan later. The guests who see her every day have all booked their appointments many days in advance, you..."

Luo Zijun said: "I would like to help her write a few poems."

Liu Mama was startled, then her eyes lit up. She grabbed his hand and said with great excitement: "Young Master Luo! Let's go, let's talk on the third floor!"

She then hurriedly shouted to a Young Maid waiting not far away: "Go quickly and notify Ziwei to dress up properly and prepare to welcome a distinguished guest!"

The Young Maid agreed and hurried away.

"Young Master Luo, let's go!"

Liu Mama gripped his arm tightly, as if afraid he might change his mind.

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment and said: "Liu Mama, I have conditions for writing poems for Miss Ziwei."

Liu Mama beamed with joy: "As long as Young Master Luo can write good poems again, feel free to state your conditions."

"I want to use the poems to help Miss Chujian redeem her contract."

Luo Zijun said calmly.

Liu Mama's footsteps faltered, and she looked at him in astonishment.

Luo Zijun said: "Liu Mama, rest assured, I will write the poems first to help you promote Miss Ziwei. If Liu Mama feels it isn't worth it then, you can go back on your word at any time."

After a pause, he added: "I can also write one for Miss Shui Shui."

A glimmer flickered in Liu Mama's eyes. She pondered for a moment, then looked at him with burning eyes and said: "Young Master Luo, are you certain of this?"

Luo Zijun did not speak; he nodded.

Liu Mama clapped her hands, and her face was once again filled with an even brighter smile: "As long as Young Master Luo is certain, then I will agree to it first. When the time comes, as long as Ziwei and Shui Shui become popular—I won't say they must surpass Chujian, but as long as their popularity is roughly the same as Chujian's—I will take it upon myself to return the contract to Chujian and let her leave."

Luo Zijun said: "Thank you, Liu Mama."

Liu Mama's face blossomed into a smile, and she became even more polite and attentive to him, hurriedly taking his arm and saying: "Let's go, let's go upstairs. Ziwei has been talking about wanting to see Young Master Luo all day long."

"Liu Mama, I hope you won't tell Miss Chujian about this for now."

Luo Zijun suddenly added.

Liu Mama swayed her waist and hips, smiled, and batted her eyes: "Fine, everything will be as Young Master Luo wishes. Whatever Young Master Luo says now, I will agree to, even if Young Master Luo wants me to accompany you tonight, I will muster my energy and serve you with my life!"

"Liu Mama, you have quite the imagination. Are you trying to rob the cradle?"

"Hahahaha..."

The guests downstairs and upstairs were secretly surprised to see this scene.

Who is this young man that he could make Liu Mama so fawning and intimate?

The girls and Young Maids in the pavilion were also peeking with burning gazes at that handsome figure wearing a Confucian robe, looking elegant and dashing.

"Is this the Young Master Luo who writes poems for Miss Chujian?"

"So handsome!"

Many girls had fiery gazes.

(End of chapter)