CHAPTER 037
All things have a spirit. Juzi must have been reminded of someone dear, and is feeling a deep mix of emotions. From observing its usual activities, it’s clear that Juzi is very familiar with the terrain of the Imperial Academy, as it moves around without being noticed by others.
Initially, I thought it was just a stray dog, wandering aimlessly, without a fixed home, belonging everywhere and nowhere. But thinking about it now, it’s unlikely that Juzi would have appeared at the Imperial Academy for no reason. Could its owner have once held a position at the Academy?
Now, only Juzi remains. The reason could either be that its owner abandoned it or has already passed away.
As Lu Yun'er lowered her gaze and pondered this, she realized that, regardless of the reason Juzi was left alone, what it needed most at this moment was care and affection. She didn’t intend to satisfy her curiosity by asking Juzi to bring out the box; instead, she gently comforted it. A wave of sadness and grief crossed her features, and she softly said, "Juzi, be good, it's okay!"
Standing nearby, Steward Qiu had also guessed the situation. Quietly observing, she was moved by the delicate tenderness of her mistress, and a gentle smile began to form on her lips.
Her mistress was truly wonderful!
Juzi, however, pushed the box to her feet, looking up at her with sincere eyes. Seeing this, Lu Yun'er understood its intention.
It trusted her.
She picked up the box from the floor, gently dusting off its surface, and upon closer inspection, she realized that this cylindrical wooden box was made of preservative wood. The surface had no visible seams, suggesting it was very well-sealed and had been carefully preserved.
Lu Yun'er examined it for a long time but couldn’t figure out how to open the cylindrical box. Just as she was at a loss, Juzi suddenly raised its uninjured front paw and pointed to the ends of the cylinder.
Following its guidance, Lu Yun'er looked at one end and discovered a small indentation. She pressed it lightly with her finger, and the central circular section of the cylindrical box began to loosen. With a gentle pull, she found that it contained what appeared to be a book, folded inside.
Placing the box on the ground, Lu Yun'er carefully took out the book. At that moment, Juzi moved closer, resting its furry head on her wrist and gently nuzzling her, as if trying to communicate something.
Locking eyes with it, she could clearly feel Juzi trembling all over, and an unspoken pressure weighed on her—not from Juzi, but from the book in her hand.
Lu Yun'er’s gaze returned to the book, and a sudden heaviness settled in her heart, causing a wave of tension. What could be inside that made Juzi so afraid?
At that moment, Steward Qiu approached with a lantern to provide light. The flickering glow illuminated Lu Yun'er’s delicate profile as she stared intently at the book in her hand.
Since she had already opened the box, Lu Yun'er decided to take a look. As she slowly flipped through the pages, she found that it was full of written records. After reading for a while, she realized that it was actually a detailed ledger, documenting every expense and income related to the Imperial Academy, with large sums involved.
"Madam, these figures are highly problematic," Steward Qiu, who managed all the expenses in the Lu household, quickly identified the issues in the ledger.
Lu Yun'er frowned, her gaze fixed firmly on the ledger. "There’s definitely something wrong."
"Madam, it seems that something fell out of the ledger. Please take a look," Steward Qiu suddenly noticed a letter that had slipped out of the book. She picked it up and handed it to her mistress.
Lu Yun'er took the letter with one hand and opened the envelope. Inside were several sheets of yellowed paper, but because they had been sealed inside the wooden box, the writing on them, like the ledger, was still legible.
She unfolded them one by one and was immediately struck by the beautiful handwriting. The script was neat and delicate, with a subtle strength in the strokes, revealing that the person who wrote this letter was someone of both gentleness and resilience.
As she delved deeper into the contents, her bright eyes widened, her pupils contracted, and her expression grew increasingly serious. Holding the lantern, Steward Qiu’s eyes opened wide as well, as if she had seen something incredibly shocking. She exclaimed in surprise, "Madam, this… this is simply unbelievable! To think that…"
Steward Qiu was so stunned by the contents of the letter that she could hardly speak.
From the moment Lu Yun'er discovered the issues in the ledger, she knew that there was a tremendous secret behind it. Beyond the content of the letter, what puzzled her even more was Juzi’s previous owner.
Who exactly was this Yan Luo?
Why did they possess such an important ledger?
Lu Yun'er took a deep breath, calming herself. She carefully put the ledger and the letter back into the box, her tone suddenly becoming serious. "Steward Qiu, this matter is of great importance. Not a word of it can be leaked, or it will surely bring disaster. Also…"
Lu Yun'er’s gaze softened as she looked at Juzi, recalling the state it was in when she first found it, and how deeply moved it was today. She feared that this person named Yan Luo had already been harmed by villains.
Moreover, Juzi’s knife wound indicated that someone had already discovered it.
"And also, from now on, Juzi must not leave the residence or be seen by outsiders. Ensure Juzi’s safety at all costs."
"Yes, Madam. You can rest assured."
Lu Yun'er waved her hand, and Steward Qiu immediately leaned in close. Lu Yun'er whispered a few more instructions in her ear.
About half an hour later, at Mingyue Tower.
"So, who was it today that made General Liu unhappy again?" Han Ranzhi asked, sitting at a square table made of golden nanmu, as usual, preparing tea while waiting for someone.
On the table was an elegant set of porcelain teaware, the cups adorned with delicate floral patterns. The tea itself was clear, and as soon as the hot water was poured over the leaves, they unfurled, releasing a rich and fragrant aroma.
This tea was something Han Ranzhi had specially brought back from Langzhou. It was refreshing, leaving a pleasant aftertaste, and its natural fragrance gave one a sense of deep satisfaction.
Liu Lan had never been a tea drinker, preferring alcohol, but after spending time with Han Ranzhi and Lu Yun'er, she gradually came to appreciate the taste of tea.
The moment she smelled the tea, she could tell it was of excellent quality. Liu Lan walked over to the table and sat down, smiling. "Who else could it be? It’s Yun'er, of course!"
"So, you lost the match again!" Han Ranzhi had heard as soon as she returned that the two had been sparring again. Knowing Liu Lan’s stubborn nature, she figured that even if Liu Lan ran into a brick wall, she wouldn’t turn back.
However, since she had been away for quite some time, Liu Lan had filled her in on everything that had happened, making her feel somewhat apologetic toward Yun'er.
Liu Lan picked up the teapot and poured herself a cup, a deep smile on her face. "You know, after all this time, Yun'er still treats me so harshly, not giving me any face at all. But for some reason, I’m starting to find her more and more to my liking. Ah! If only she were my real sister!"
A slight curve appeared at the corner of Han Ranzhi’s mouth as she recalled something Liu Lan had said before. As an elder sister, she indeed felt she should care more about her younger sister. Unfortunately, having been in the officialdom for so many years and coming from a humble background, she hadn’t formed many genuine friendships.
Moreover, many of her colleagues were also familiar with Yun'er.
For instance, there was Ouyang Pan, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Ouyang Pan’s younger brother, Ouyang Jinghe, had met Yun'er once and had taken a liking to her at first sight. Han Ranzhi had even organized a gathering with Ouyang Pan, hoping to bring the two together, but Yun'er had politely declined.
Ouyang Pan was straightforward and didn’t force the issue, but her brother, Ouyang Jinghe, still seemed to have Yun'er on his mind. However, during a casual chat with Ouyang Pan earlier, Han Ranzhi learned that her brother had found a good match and was about to get married soon.
Han Ranzhi smiled and said, "Since you like Yun'er so much, and she’s at the age to settle down, why not see if any of your refined and virtuous younger brothers in the Liu family would be a good match for her? Who knows, she might just end up becoming your sister-in-law!"
"If it were earlier, that might have worked!" Liu Lan’s eyes lit up with obvious delight at the idea, but then she shook her head, her eyes narrowing into a knowing smile. "But Yun'er already has someone in mind. Though it’s not certain yet, the future is hard to predict!"
She knew Yun'er well enough to understand that she wouldn’t actively seek out romance, but when it came to the young Marquis Su, things might be different!
Hearing this, Han Ranzhi was somewhat skeptical. She knew a bit about Yun'er and the young Marquis Su, but it seemed unlikely that Yun'er, after saving the young Marquis, would feel obligated to repay him with her life.
Moreover, their first encounter had been at the Imperial Academy when the young Marquis had fallen, and Yun'er had reached out to help him. Han Ranzhi had been there at the time and hadn’t noticed anything unusual.
The young Marquis Su was not only of noble birth, but his mother was also the Princess of Yun, enjoying a status second only to the emperor. It wasn’t that Yun'er was unworthy of him, but such matters were... complicated.
She was half-convinced, half-doubtful.
Noticing Han Ranzhi’s thoughts, Liu Lan leaned forward, speaking softly. "Once you see them together, you’ll understand—it’s that kind of inexplicable feeling. You know what I mean. But don’t mention anything I’ve said to Yun'er!"
Liu Lan then resumed her original posture, picking up the teacup, gently blowing on it before taking a slow sip. She sighed softly, "Sometimes, I feel like I can’t quite figure Yun'er out. It’s as if she’s close to us at times, but other times she feels distant. Ranzhi, have you ever had that impression?"
Hearing this, Han Ranzhi, who had just picked up her teacup, paused slightly. It turned out she wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
However, she found it comforting, believing it to be a sign of growth.
She had met Yun'er before Liu Lan did, back when General Lu was still alive. At that time, Yun'er seemed particularly innocent and carefree.
Youth knows no sorrow, as they say—that must have been her state of mind!
After the death of the Lu couple, Yun'er had been promoted to Minister of Revenue by the Emperor, forcing her to grow up quickly and contend with the treacherous officials in the court. There were many times when she cried in front of Han Ranzhi, venting her frustrations with nonsensical words. But after letting it all out, she always seemed to feel much better.
Perhaps she had experienced too much over the years, maturing greatly, becoming more composed and decisive.
She had transformed from a naive young girl into a capable woman.
Han Ranzhi felt a sense of pride in her.
At that moment, footsteps approached from the corridor outside. Han Ranzhi snapped out of her thoughts, put down her teacup, and smiled. "Someone’s here."
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