Zhao Yong

Chen Lingxi stood in the hall and did not answer at once upon hearing this.

He lowered his head, his shoulders trembling faintly, as though this sudden favor had struck him so hard he did not know what to do.

Only after several breaths did he slowly raise his head, an excitement he was desperately suppressing still spilling from his brows and eyes.

The excitement was not exaggerated; one might even say he had measured it perfectly.

Like a man long trapped in a mire who suddenly saw a rope hanging before him—wanting to reach out and seize it, yet fearing it was only a dream.

His lips moved twice, as though he wished to speak words of tearful gratitude, but he swallowed them back. In the end, he merely drew a deep breath and said, "Miss's great kindness, Chen Lingxi... will remember it in his heart."

Holding her teacup, Lin Longyue let her gaze rest on his face, taking in that instant of excitement and restraint. She said nothing, merely nodded slightly to signal for him to continue.

Chen Lingxi lowered his eyes, seeming to weigh his words.

After a moment, he said, "Chen Lingxi dares to ask, if Miss permits it, Chen Lingxi wishes to request two things."

"Speak."

"First, Chen Lingxi has cultivated for only a short time, and his foundation is still shallow. The medicinal herbs, pills, and flowers and plants needed for flower arranging must often be purchased outside the residence.

"Chen Lingxi does not dare trouble the residence stewards, so he asks Miss to grant permission for Chen Lingxi to leave the residence several times each month to make purchases."

He spoke earnestly, his head remaining lowered throughout, his tone carrying a trace of careful caution.

"Leave the residence to make purchases?" Lin Longyue repeated the four words, her tone even, betraying neither pleasure nor anger.

Chen Lingxi's heart tightened slightly, but his expression did not change. He simply stood quietly with his hands lowered, waiting for her to speak.

After several breaths, Lin Longyue suddenly smiled.

"You do know what is important," she said. "You did not seize the chance to ask for pills, cultivation methods, or silver. You only asked for the right to leave the residence and the right to enter the library."

Chen Lingxi lowered his head without speaking.

"Granted." Lin Longyue waved a hand. "You may leave the residence twice each month. Leave at dawn and return at dusk; there must be no delays. As for the library..."

She turned to Liu Que, who stood by the door. "Steward Liu, take him to register at the library. From now on, he may read all texts on the first through third floors of the residence. For the fourth floor and above, he will need my written order."

Liu Que bowed. "Yes."

Chen Lingxi's heart settled, though he showed only precisely the right amount of delight. He bowed. "Thank you, Miss."

Lin Longyue gave a sound of acknowledgment and lifted her teacup for a sip.

The tea had already gone cold, yet she did not care. She swallowed it slowly, set the cup down, and suddenly changed the subject.

"Why did Zhao Yong summon you today?"

The question came abruptly, though her tone remained calm.

Chen Lingxi's heart skipped a beat, but his face revealed nothing.

He raised his head, a hint of confusion appearing on his face. "In reply to Miss, Chen Lingxi does not know. Steward Zhao sent someone to summon me, saying only, 'You are to come and answer questions,' without explaining the reason."

He was telling the truth.

Lin Longyue stared at him for several breaths.

Chen Lingxi stood with his hands lowered, his breathing steady and his gaze unwavering.

Several breaths later, Lin Longyue withdrew her gaze and gave a cold snort.

The snort was very soft, yet it carried undisguised displeasure.

"Zhao Yong's hand reaches quite far."

She picked up her teacup, then set it down again, turning her gaze to Liu Que. "Steward Liu, send someone to Zhao Yong's courtyard with my words—Chen Lingxi is under this young lady's direct authority from now on. His affairs need not concern Steward Zhao.

"If he wishes to summon someone for questioning again, tell him to ask this young lady first."

Liu Que bowed. "Yes."

Standing in the hall, Chen Lingxi heard those words, and the stone hanging over his heart finally dropped somewhat.

He drew a deep breath, lowered his head, and bowed, his voice carrying just the right amount of gratitude. "Thank you, Miss."

Lin Longyue waved a hand, seemingly unwilling to discuss the matter further.

Leaning back in her chair, she let her gaze travel over Chen Lingxi, then suddenly spoke again, her tone somewhat gentler than before.

"Your monthly allowance will rise to thirty taels from today onward."

Chen Lingxi was stunned.

Thirty taels.

For an official slave, this was already an unimaginable sum.

Even some of the more prominent stewards in the Marquis Residence earned only a little over a hundred taels a year.

Seeing him dazed, Lin Longyue's lips curved slightly—a smile, more or less.

"There is no need to look like that." She lifted her teacup, her tone mild. "Since you possess such ability, this young lady will not begrudge you silver. Use it well for flower arranging and cultivation. Do not disappoint this monthly allowance."

She paused. "There is one more matter."

Chen Lingxi stood silently with his hands lowered, listening.

"From now on, you need not refer to yourself as an official slave. Simply use your own name."

"When the time comes, I will rid you of your official slave status and elevate you to a fan household."

A fan household.

Chen Lingxi's heart stirred slightly.

Under Great Li law, official slaves and maidservants inherited their status generation after generation. The law treated them as livestock, leaving almost no chance of turning their lives around.

To shed one's registration, a master first had to show mercy and elevate an official slave to a fan household. Then the fan household had to become a mixed household, and finally, only after a great imperial amnesty could they return to the status of commoners.

This step was harder than climbing to the heavens.

Yet Lin Longyue had personally promised him this today.

It seems my value to Lin Longyue has indeed grown considerably.

But... whether it is true or false remains hard to say.

The greater his value, the more Lin Longyue would want to keep him firmly in her grasp.

Chen Lingxi suppressed the surging thoughts in his heart, showing gratitude as he bowed. "Chen Lingxi... thanks Miss for this great kindness."

Lin Longyue gave a sound of acknowledgment, lifted her teacup, and lowered her eyes to drink. She did not look at him again.

That posture said it all—the conversation was over, and he could withdraw.

Chen Lingxi bowed, took two steps backward, then turned and left East Hall.

The wind outside the corridor was colder than when he had arrived.

Chen Lingxi stood below the steps and exhaled a long stream of white breath.

In the dusk, it condensed into a thin mist and slowly dispersed.

He looked up at the sky.

The sun had already sunk behind the western wall, leaving only half an orange-red face hanging above the rooftops. Its afterglow dyed the clouds along the horizon a dusky gold.

It was beautiful.

He stood there for a moment, then started back.

Without pausing, he passed through the moon gate and turned onto the path leading to the servants' quarters in West Courtyard.

He did not walk quickly, but his steps were steady.

The turbulent thoughts in his heart gradually settled as he walked.

Thirty taels a month, two trips outside the residence every month, unrestricted access to the first through third floors of the library, no need to call myself an official slave anymore, and even a promise of becoming a fan household.

Lin Longyue had given him far more today than he had expected.

However.

Her esteem came at a price.

Thirty taels of silver, two trips outside, several floors of books—yet she wanted his loyalty, his value, his life.

If one day he was no longer worth that price, she could take all these things back at any time.

Chen Lingxi saw this clearly, and his heart remained undisturbed.

He had never expected kindness from Lin Longyue.

Increase my cultivation as quickly as possible. Escape Baosu Marquis Residence. Escape the Capital Circuit.

With that thought in mind, he quickened his pace.

At the end of the path stood his small private courtyard.

The courtyard gate was half open, and the last faint light of dusk shone through the crack.

Chen Lingxi quickened his steps and was about to push open the gate.

Suddenly, he halted and turned his head.

Several dozen paces away stood a man.

The man had his back to him, his hands clasped behind him. He was of average build and wore a dark green cloak.

The cloak was made of exceptionally fine material, glinting with a deep, dim sheen in the dusk as it wrapped his body tightly.

The moment Chen Lingxi recognized that figure from behind, his pupils contracted.

In his year and more at the Marquis Residence, he had seen that man's back many times.

Each time, he had only glimpsed it from afar through a crowd. Never had the man been so close as he was now.

The chief steward of Baosu Marquis Residence, Zhao Yong.

Zhao Yong seemed to hear his footsteps and slowly turned around.

In the twilight, that face emerged and vanished in shadow.

The cloak's collar stood high, concealing half his face and revealing only his eyes and a little of his brow bone.

His eyes were not large, their outer corners drooping slightly. Their pupils were extremely dark, like two dried wells whose depths could not be seen.

Yet those seemingly ordinary eyes were fixed unblinkingly on Chen Lingxi at this moment, like two daggers still sheathed—pressed within their sheaths, yet already leaking coldness.

Chen Lingxi paused, then immediately returned to normal.

He walked forward and stopped three paces before Zhao Yong, bowing in salute. "Chen Lingxi greets Steward Zhao."

His tone was respectful and beyond reproach.

Zhao Yong did not answer at once.

He still stood with his hands behind his back, those dried-well eyes roaming back and forth over Chen Lingxi as though assessing an item of merchandise.

Several breaths passed.

Chen Lingxi stood with his hands lowered and his head bowed, his posture submissive and his breathing steady.

The Concealed Edge Method circulated soundlessly within him, drawing in that layer of spiritual qi barrier until it was sealed tightly, without the slightest flaw leaking out.

At last, Zhao Yong spoke.

"Chen Lingxi." His voice was not loud, yet it was deep and full. "You are quite lucky to still be alive."

Chen Lingxi lowered his head without speaking.

"You need not be nervous." Zhao Yong suddenly smiled. "This old man has not come today to make things difficult for you."

Chen Lingxi raised his head, revealing precisely the right amount of confusion.

Zhao Yong paced two steps with his hands behind his back. With the dusk at his back, his dark green cloak fluttered faintly in the wind.

"Do you know that Liu Changle is no longer in the residence?"

Chen Lingxi was startled.

His surprise was not entirely feigned—he did not know why Zhao Yong was telling him this.

"You need not be surprised." Zhao Yong spoke slowly. "This old man was the one who let Liu Changle go."

Chen Lingxi's pupils narrowed.

Zhao Yong took in his reaction, and the smile at the corner of his mouth deepened.

"You think this old man used you to test medicine for his own selfish desires?" He shook his head. "You are wrong."

"That medicinal powder is fiercely toxic. An ordinary person will surely die after taking it.

"But if one can endure the poison without dying, one will shed one's mortal form and exchange one's bones, greatly enhancing one's innate foundation. Cultivation will advance a thousand miles in a single day."

He withdrew his gaze, letting it fall upon Chen Lingxi once more.

"You and Liu Changle were the two who endured the poison."

Chen Lingxi listened, showing shock and uncertainty on his face, while his heart remained calm as ice.

Zhao Yong continued, "Since Liu Changle has shed his mortal form and exchanged his bones, and has become a fellow traveler with this old man in pursuing our great undertaking—

"Then this old man let him leave the Marquis Residence and gave him his freedom."

He paused and looked directly at Chen Lingxi.

"This old man could spare Liu Changle and grant him freedom. Then this old man can spare you as well."