Storehouse

"I had no acquaintances outside the estate. The day before yesterday, I accidentally broke the Young Lady's Jade Cup. Thinking to make up for my mistake through merit, I went to find some materials to repair it."

Chu Zheng did not hide anything and told the truth.

He had anticipated this situation when he asked Xiao Cai for the Jade Cup fragments, so he was not particularly nervous.

Song Lingxue's brows twitched. "Where is the Jade Cup now?"

Chu Zheng took a cloth pouch from his chest and offered it up with both hands.

The translucent Jade Cup had already been restored to its original state. Golden threads covered the cracks; from the outside, no flaw could be seen. It even possessed a touch more nobility than before.

Yet faint cracks could still be seen within the cup, like fractures in ice. At most, it could serve as an ornament and could no longer hold wine or drink.

For ordinary repair methods to achieve this much was already no easy feat, and Chu Zheng himself was quite satisfied.

He had only repaired this Jade Cup last night, and it had provided him with a full thirty experience points.

Over the past few days, he had also figured out some information about the Panel.

Not everything granted experience when repaired. He had deliberately shattered a porcelain bowl and then fixed it, but the Panel had shown no reaction whatsoever.

The broken tables and chairs in the Filth Room had likewise failed to provide him with experience after being repaired.

The Panel seemed to have its own set of rules for determining experience gains.

The Jade Cup turned over and over between her slender fingertips. After a moment, Song Lingxue stroked the golden threads along its wall and slowly asked,

"Where did these golden threads come from?"

Though these golden threads were not worth a fortune, neither were they something a servant could casually produce.

"They were monthly wages I had saved in the past."

As a household servant, his former self had received a monthly stipend. Though it was not much, over the years it had accumulated into a considerable sum. He had originally intended to save it to buy back his freedom, never imagining it would ultimately be spent on this Jade Cup.

To gather enough golden thread for the repair, Chu Zheng had spent more than half his savings.

Song Lingxue tucked the Jade Cup into her sleeve and casually asked, "When did you learn this craft?"

"From books." Chu Zheng raised his head and covertly glanced at her sleeve, feeling a slight pang of heartache.

If not for this disturbance, he had planned to wait until some time had passed and everyone had forgotten, then exchange the Jade Cup for something.

"It seems you are quite diligent in your studies."

After praising him, Song Lingxue returned the conversation to its proper course. "Where did those Immortal Sect Scriptures come from?"

That was the crux of the matter.

"The scriptures were a gift from the Second Young Lady on the night before she left the estate," Chu Zheng answered truthfully.

Strictly speaking, those few scriptures contained little of real importance, so there was nothing much to conceal.

"Ling Qing sought you out before leaving home?" Song Lingxue frowned slightly. Beside her, Song Yun also abruptly straightened, his eyes widening in utter disbelief.

Was a handsome face truly that powerful?

The Eldest Young Lady could be excused. She rarely came into contact with men, so it was only natural that she might entertain certain thoughts for a time.

But who was the Second Young Lady? Born with an Immortal Bone, she was a figure like a celestial maiden. Within the immortal sect, those she encountered were all Supreme Immortals. What sort of sights had she not seen? How could she, too, regard Chu Zheng differently?

Song Yun took two steps back, as though a massive stone weighed upon his chest, his face heavy.

"What did Ling Qing say to you? Why did she leave these things to you?" Song Lingxue immediately pressed him for more details.

"The Second Young Lady said nothing. She merely asked what wish I had. Since I had served for several years, she wished to help me fulfill one desire."

Chu Zheng laid everything out plainly, then added, "I knew I was dull-witted and could never become anything great, so I only asked for a few miscellaneous books to pass the time."

"You only asked for these books?"

Song Lingxue looked somewhat surprised and could not help saying, "Why did you not take the chance to ask for gold and silver to redeem yourself? Or a Spirit Pill to extend your life?"

You could leave and become an idle wealthy man, buy land and marry a wife. No matter what, it would be better than remaining a servant in the estate.

"My parents died when I was young. The Song Family gave me a way to live. If I left the estate, I would not even know what to do."

Chu Zheng lowered his head with a soft sigh, then looked up at Song Lingxue.

"Only after the Second Young Lady enlightened me did I learn that this Jade Cup was an immortal treasure. Breaking it by accident was a crime that ten thousand deaths could not redeem. The Eldest Young Lady was kind enough to spare my life. I should naturally know gratitude and repay it, doing all I can in the future."

In Chu Zheng's view, his former self had been somewhat incapable of appreciating kindness.

A true man could bend and stretch. How much was pride worth? Playing the misery card and tugging at heartstrings worked in any era, especially against a young girl not yet twenty.

Song Yun, standing nearby, came back to his senses. Looking at Chu Zheng's earnest expression, warning bells blared wildly in his heart.

Something was wrong...

This was absolutely not the Chu Zheng he knew.

Within that familiar face, he could vaguely discern several traces of a villain's countenance.

This was bad...

Song Yun hurriedly turned to look at Song Lingxue. Sure enough, though her expression had not changed, her gaze had softened.

In an instant, Song Yun broke out in a cold sweat. The old Chu Zheng had been nothing but a stubborn mule with only a pretty face. He had never given Song Yun this sense of threat.

Whenever the Eldest Young Lady bestowed favor in the past, Song Yun had always been on tenterhooks. What he feared most was that Chu Zheng might suddenly come to his senses one day.

Now, the thing he had feared most had still happened. Chu Zheng had likely truly come to his senses and meant to accept the olive branch the Eldest Young Lady had extended.

This fasting punishment had truly taught him to behave.

"Enough. Since the matter has been made clear, you have no business here."

Song Lingxue waved her hand. "Since Ling Qing gave you those books, keep them."

"The Eldest Young Lady sees clearly."

Chu Zheng let out a breath of relief. Just as he turned to leave, Song Lingxue called him back.

"For the golden thread used to repair the Jade Cup, go to the accounts office and submit the expense. Draw the funds from the Storehouse. Report twenty taels more, and I will approve it as a reward."

Song Lingxue lowered her eyes slightly and spoke blandly. "I have already punished you for breaking the Jade Cup and will not pursue it further. Repairing it counts as merit."

"It was my duty. I dare not claim credit."

Chu Zheng bowed. "Thank you for the Eldest Young Lady's reward."

Seeing that he did not refuse the silver, Song Lingxue's lips curved slightly upward. Chu Zheng became a little more pleasing to her eye, and she spoke again.

"It would be a pity to bury this skill of yours. You need not live in the Filth Room anymore. Go to the Storehouse. There are some ancient objects there that need repairing. Your monthly stipend will be doubled."

"Thank you, Eldest Young Lady!"

Chu Zheng's eyes shone brightly. He had been worrying that the Filth Room was becoming somewhat tasteless and wondering how to arrange matters afterward, when a pillow arrived just as he grew sleepy.

A post in the Storehouse was worlds apart from the Filth Room. Those who could serve there were surely core members of the estate and the most trusted.

The vast majority of the Song Family's treasures were stored there, full of unknown possibilities. Compared with it, the Filth Room, which he had already thoroughly explored, held no attraction at all.

"Eldest Young Lady, this is ultimately only his side of the story..."

Song Yun drew a deep breath, but before he could finish, Song Lingxue shook her head and interrupted him.

"There are many people and many eyes in the city. Chu Zheng's movements can be checked easily enough. Go verify them, then report back to me once you have found the truth."