Only upon hearing this did Verdant Green Maiden give a slight nod.
"That's quite good."
"And your name?"
"Father and Mother hoped I would be learned and well-mannered, so they named me Zhi Shu!"
"..."
"Zhi, as in 'to know'?"
Verdant Green Maiden asked.
Zhi Shu nodded.
Verdant Green Maiden breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, then."
Seeing her relief, Zhi Shu grew curious and asked, "What is it? Is there something wrong with my name?"
Verdant Green Maiden immediately shook her head. "No, nothing wrong. Zhi Shu... is a good name."
Hearing this, Zhi Shu smiled too. A word of praise from Verdant Green Maiden was enough to warm her heart! Then she remembered something else, turned, and went into the inner room, where she unearthed an old box from a corner deep inside.
The box looked quite aged. She carefully carried it over to Verdant Green Maiden.
"Look! This is what you entrusted to my ancestor all those years ago."
"We've always taken good care of it. Today, it's time to return it to its rightful owner."
"Its rightful owner?"
Verdant Green Maiden frowned.
She knew what was inside, yet her brows still drew together slightly.
"Bai Juyi wrote this for your ancestor. It isn't mine."
"I know..."
"But..."
Zhi Shu lowered her head and sighed. "Lady Verdant Green Maiden, my family can no longer protect it."
At these words, Verdant Green Maiden fell silent.
Only after a moment did she nod in assent and accept the box. "Does your household have enough to live on?"
"Yes!"
Zhi Shu nodded.
But soon, she hesitated again.
"Well... not quite."
"There's no need to lie to me."
Verdant Green Maiden looked at her and spoke gently.
She took out some more silver and handed it to Zhi Shu, then asked,