Chapter 43: Reunion with an Old Friend

Zhu Hao knew that gaining Lu Song's complete trust would not be easy.

Right now, the two of them were in the same boat. Lu Song had been dragged into this situation by Centurion Lin, while Zhu Hao had been given a mission by his family. Neither of them wanted to work for the imperial court—specifically, to serve the royal family. Their stance on supporting the Prince of Xing's estate was in complete alignment.

"Guard Commander Lu, please make sure you pass the message to your son and let the prince and princess know that I am here." Zhu Hao repeated his request.

Lu Song wore a skeptical look. "You want me to deliver the message, and they will just come...?"

Zhu Hao smiled. "I entered the estate to be their study companion in the first place. As friends, would they turn a blind eye knowing I am here? Besides, I need to be able to enter and leave the Prince of Xing's estate freely. For this, I hope Guard Commander Lu can lend a hand."

Lu Song nodded after a brief moment of thought.

The eastern courtyard did not belong to the inner chambers of the estate, so the guards were somewhat more lenient there. He only needed to give a word, but Lu Song would never easily allow Zhu Hao to enter the inner residential area of the estate.

"Very well, Guard Commander Lu. Although we both wish to rid ourselves of the Brocade Guard's control, we must also protect ourselves as best as we can. Our relationship must not become known to others; we need a secret method of contact... How about this? If there is anything urgent, draw a cross with charcoal on the wall under the lantern at the end of the alley... What do you think?"

Zhu Hao had already thought this through. Since he needed to cooperate with Lu Song but could not meet frequently, he had to establish a method of emergency contact in advance.

Lu Song was even more baffled.

How could someone as young as Zhu Hao have so many schemes in mind? He could even think of such a bizarre method of contact?

This could only mean that Zhu Hao truly had a master strategist guiding him from behind the scenes. If that was the case... silencing Zhu Hao permanently was completely out of the question, because others also knew his identity. Once he made any drastic moves, it would only be easier to expose his own tracks.

...

...

After a deep-night clandestine discussion between the two, Lu Song quietly departed.

Whether Lu Song would pass the message to Zhu San and Zhu Four through Lu Bing, Zhu Hao was not yet certain, but this was already the best method he could devise.

Over the next two days.

With Lu Song's assistance, Zhu Hao was finally able to enter and leave the Prince of Xing's estate, though only around midday, using a small side door in the eastern courtyard normally reserved for the cooks.

Guards were always stationed there, but with Lu Song's prior instructions, they turned a blind eye to Zhu Hao.

At the same time, Zhu Hao noticed a dog hole tucked away in a corner. If one didn't mind losing a bit of dignity, a child could easily crawl in and out through it.

Perhaps this was the "secret passage" Zhu San and Zhu Four used to slip out of the estate.

Although the people within the estate held deep vigilance toward Zhu Hao, after a few consecutive days of coexistence, the staff in the eastern courtyard grew accustomed to his presence, treating him as if he wasn't even there. He had no trouble eating regular meals or stepping out of the estate, but the moment he walked even slightly toward the inner courtyard, someone would immediately block his path and quickly drive him away.

Finally, on the third noon after his meeting with Lu Song, just as he had stopped chopping firewood in the courtyard and was preparing to go out to buy a few small items, Zhu San appeared at the doorway of the storehouse accompanied by Lu Bing.

"Hey, you really are here."

Seeing the door wide open, Zhu San poked her head in to take a look, and upon spotting Zhu Hao wiping away sweat next to a pile of firewood, she couldn't help cracking a wide smile.

This was their first meeting in ten days, ever since parting ways at the bird and flower market.

Zhu San still maintained her carefree and spontaneous demeanor.

Since she was masquerading as her younger brother, and the estate exercised relatively loose management over her, she was able to bring Lu Bing along around midday to pay a visit.

Zhu Hao invited them into the courtyard.

Zhu San and Lu Bing looked around, and Lu Bing asked foolishly, "What is this place?"

Zhu Hao replied, "It's a storehouse... I've been living here ever since I entered the estate. When I have nothing to do, I chop some firewood, just to exercise my body."

Zhu San curled her lip and said, "How can this be called part of the prince's estate? At best, it's the estate's firewood shed... Wasn't your goal to enter the estate to study? How can you be willing to stay here as a servant chopping firewood? You certainly have a lot of ambition!"

...

Even at first glance, one could tell that this person had a sharp tongue and enjoyed mocking others. Perhaps because she had been blackmailed by Zhu Hao previously, she wanted to get back at him the moment they met.

Wearing a look of complete contentment, Zhu Hao shook his head and said, "Actually, doing chores here is much better than being dragged back home by my family to be an apprentice... Besides, didn't I enter the estate to be your study companion? Perhaps after I stay here for a while, the people here will have a change of heart and allow me to study?"

Zhu San had originally intended to continue teasing Zhu Hao, but upon hearing these words, a trace of shame appeared on her face.

Just like when she had previously asked Lu Bing to pass a word to the person selling rabbits, she was well aware of the estate's unwelcoming attitude toward Zhu Hao and had even tried to issue a warning beforehand.

But now that Zhu Hao had already entered the estate, everything needed to be re-strategized.

"Why haven't I seen your younger brother?" Zhu Hao asked.

"Him? He fell gravely ill a while back, and though his health has improved somewhat now, my family won't let him wander about casually. I originally wanted to bring him along to look around... Oh right, what fun things do you have here? Are there any rabbits?"

Zhu San was at that innocent, playful, and mischievous age. Coupled with the fact that she regarded Zhu Hao as a playmate she could befriend, she spoke without keeping her tongue in check.

Zhu Hao said, "No one told me you were coming, otherwise I could have prepared in advance... The weather has been very hot recently. When I'm outside, I usually manage to get some ice and make iced plum soup or things like that. If there's a chance, you can try it, but today I really don't have any."

Zhu San laughed heartily and said, "Zhu Hao, why do you love bragging so much? You, of all people, can manage to get ice? The estate has an ice cellar storing ice blocks specially shipped from the north during the winter of the previous year. They start taking out the ice every year around the Pure Brightness festival and it's basically exhausted before the Autumn Begins festival... If mid-summer has already passed, the stock isn't much, and it takes several days just to release a single block of ice... Where on earth are you going to get ice?"

Zhu Hao spread his hands and said, "Believe it or not, up to you. Why don't you come back tomorrow, and I'll treat you to some iced plum soup?"

Meeting Zhu San again was not the ultimate purpose; the most important thing was to capture her attention. Whatever delicious or fun things he had, Zhu Hao had to display them one by one so that she and her brother would frequently visit.

Otherwise, if the siblings only came occasionally and had to do so without the people of the estate knowing, how could they help him smoothly secure the position of study companion?

"Fine, go ahead and brag, I won't stop you."

Zhu San didn't take it to heart. With sparkling eyes, she looked at Zhu Hao and said, "Actually, I came to tell you that even though you've entered the estate, it's very unlikely you'll become a study companion for me and my younger brother. You can forget about studying altogether. Staying here... you'll probably just be chopping firewood for the rest of your life."

Children lack filters, and those words sounded rather harsh, but they were absolute truth.

Much like Lu Song's warning to Zhu Hao.

Since the estate was on guard against you, stubbornly clinging here served no purpose at all.

"I have a revolving lantern here, do you want to see it?" Zhu Hao asked.

"What is a revolving lantern?"

Not only was Zhu San interested, but Lu Bing was also filled with curiosity.

Zhu Hao said, "One look and I can tell your estate has nothing fun at all, you don't even know what a revolving lantern is. Plenty of people outside play with them, but my revolving lantern is much more interesting than theirs. Come inside and take a look, and you'll understand."

...

...

Inside the room.

Zhu Hao took out the little gadgets he had prepared.

Good things could not all be brought out at once; they needed to be revealed gradually like offering treasures.

This time, he only brought out the revolving lantern—which was a small lantern. First, he lit the candle inside, then spun the outer shell of the lantern. Much like a shadow play, the candle cast the shadows of the paper-cuttings inside onto the outer shell, and as the shell spun rapidly, it created the illusion of flowers whizzing by on horseback, extraordinarily lively and nimble.

It instantly captured the attention of both Zhu San and Lu Bing.

"It's daytime right now. Even with the door closed, it's not quite dazzling enough. If you come at night, you'll be able to see it much more clearly," Zhu Hao said while demonstrating.

Zhu San clearly belonged to the type who was bored with nothing to do. With a cheeky smile, she asked, "Then why don't you give this revolving lantern to me? After all, I'm the one who helped you get into the estate. It's not too much to ask for a lantern as a token of thanks, right?"

Zhu Hao replied, "Just a moment ago, you said that once I entered the estate, I was destined to chop firewood for the rest of my life. How is it that now you're claiming this as your own merit and asking me to repay you?"

...

"Hey, you stingy fellow, I knew you wouldn't give it up." Zhu San pouted.

Perhaps because she had grown more familiar with Zhu Hao, she began to display her true, unreserved personality.

Zhu Hao sighed and said, "It's not that I'm stingy. It's just that ever since I came here, I haven't been able to reunite with my family. The nights are extremely dull, and if I don't rely on this thing to pass the time, how am I supposed to get through the long nights? Wait until later, and I'll have my mother make a few more, then you can take them back."

Zhu San beamed with joy. "At least you have a conscience. Fine, I'll come back to collect it later."

Zhu Hao asked, "Why did you guys come over today?"

Zhu San casually replied, "Ah-Bing told me you were here... Hey, Ah-Bing, where did you get the news?"

Ah-Bing...

Hearing this name, Zhu Hao felt a twitch of awkwardness.

Lu Bing looked aggrieved as he said, "I heard it from my father."

Zhu San uttered an "oh". "I originally wanted to come yesterday, but slipping out of the inner estate isn't easy. Today I finally managed to catch the opportunity... There are quite a few paths to get out of the estate from here. If you find the time dragging and want to go back at night, I have a way to grant your wish."

Why do people say children will throw caution to the wind just to play?

Zhu Hao silently sighed in his heart.

Born and raised right here, Zhu San was exceptionally familiar with the estate's layout, and sneaking out of the estate was as easy as eating and drinking for her.

However, after listening to the several methods of escaping through the main gates that Zhu San rattled off, Zhu Hao was left torn between laughter and tears.

"You aren't trying to say that every time you slip out, you just follow someone and blend in right through the main gate, are you?" Hearing this, Zhu Hao felt that her method of sneaking out lacked any technique whatsoever.

"Pfft, of course! The gates of this estate have to open sometime, is there any difficulty in slipping out?" Zhu San felt that Zhu Hao was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Zhu Hao was left speechless.

Though, thinking about it, it made sense.

If Zhu San was caught sneaking out of the estate, the worst that would happen was she'd be dragged back by the ear. But previously, before he had Lu Song's help, if Zhu Hao was discovered, he would simply be kicked out...

The severity of the punishment differed, so naturally the methods used were different.

Zhu Hao asked, "Then how am I supposed to get into the estate's inner courtyard?"

Zhu San replied, "There's no way I'm telling you that. What if you sneaked into the inner residential quarters and went to spy on the maidservants bathing? The inner courtyard of the estate is heavily guarded. I'm doing this for your own good—if you're caught, getting your legs broken would be getting off light."

A moment ago she was just an innocent, simple-minded child, but in the blink of an eye, she put on the airs of a princess.

"Zhu San... Is this your name? I'd like to raise a few rabbits over here... It's a pity the rabbits I had at home had no one to look after them and all died. Why don't you bring me back a couple of the ones I sold you earlier? What do you think?" Zhu Hao asked.

Zhu San glared at Zhu Hao. "And you claimed you knew how to raise them... Since you managed to raise them to death, how could I possibly keep them alive?"

Zhu Hao said, "Oh, I see. You didn't come to see me to reminisce... Could it be that you're plotting to go catch another litter of rabbits with me?"

Zhu San smiled so broadly her eyes curved into crescents, her long eyelashes looking like two dainty new moons, parting her lips to reveal a row of pearly white teeth. "Why are you so smart? But since I can't go out to catch rabbits right now, how about this: you catch the rabbits and bring them back, and I'll come over to pick them up. I won't take them for free either, I'll pay you... three copper coins per rabbit, how's that?"