Chapter 127: Chapter 72: A Night with Secrets_4
One hundred taels, just enough to buy that long-coveted shop on Que’er Street and to settle the current turmoil at home.
Lu Qian asked, "Uncle?"
Liu Kun shuddered and blurted out, "Qian, stay tonight, the government officers are everywhere outside."
"Then I really can’t stay, Uncle. If I’m discovered here, you all will be implicated too."
As he spoke, he attempted to leave, but Liu Kun grabbed him.
Lu Qian looked at him with confusion as Liu Kun swallowed his saliva, "You’ve been hiding and dodging outside these past few days, I reckon you haven’t had a decent meal. Who knows when things will settle down if you leave now. Wait here, I’ll have your aunt make a bowl of eel noodle for you. Eat first, then go."
Unable to refuse Liu Kun, Lu Qian could only agree to stay a moment longer. Wang Chunchi was hurriedly called by Liu Kun to cook the noodles, feeling particularly displeased as she muttered, "He’s a fugitive! And you still make noodles for him, you’re not afraid of getting into trouble, but I am!"
Liu Kun’s gaze flickered, "Yes, he is a fugitive."
He was also the ticket to getting them through this tough time.
Before long, Liu Kun placed the steaming bowl of noodles in front of Lu Qian, who picked up his chopsticks and devoured the meal, smiling at him between bites, "After all these years, Auntie’s cooking still tastes the same."
Liu Kun smiled along, but as he raised his head again, Lu Qian’s had slumped into his arm—Liu Kun had put enough sleeping powder in the bowl to knock out even the largest elephant.
Under the dim light, half of Liu Kun’s face was shrouded in shadow and devoid of expression as he watched the young man’s sleeping features. He thought, Lu Qian had offended those at the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, it was only a matter of time before he died. Rather than dying obscurely at another’s hands, it was better to pass through his own hands, at least that way he could contribute something to his family.
A life, for one hundred taels of silver, enough to rent the noodle shop on Que’er Street.
And that "evidence", maybe it could fetch even more.
Wang Chunchi, who had gone to report to the authorities, was back and quietly urging him behind the door, so he stood up and walked over...
"Slam—"
The door wasn’t closed properly, and a gust of wind flung one open, banging back and forth in the night, disrupting Liu Kun’s thoughts.
So he stood up and walked over, just like that night—
"Click" went the sound as he locked the door.
...
The long wind swept through the abode of the poor scholar, lifting the curtains, and across the lanterns at the homes of the rich and the officials. That night, some laughed, others cried.
In the room, Lu Tong was offering incense before the small Buddha shrine.
Yin Zheng came in from outside, her voice cheerfully saying, "The imperial examinations are tomorrow, and Young Master Dong’s servant just came to buy victory tea. I used your name, Miss, to offer a few auspicious words, to lift Young Master Dong’s spirits."
Lu Tong offered a faint smile.
This year, Dong Lin was also going to participate in the examinations. His lung disease had improved a lot, and staying in the exam quarters for a few days wouldn’t affect him. Lady Dong was not really expecting Dong Lin to top the exams; she just wanted him to experience the atmosphere and show the other ladies of Shengjing that her son was healthy, not the sickly boy of rumors.
Yin Zheng felt that part of the reason Dong Lin was participating this year was to impress Lu Tong. Men, in front of the ones they favored, always acted like peacocks in full splendor, mustering all their energy to show off, even though such behavior might seem utterly foolish in the eyes of the other.
After pondering, Yin Zheng said, "Scholar Wu is also going to take part in the exams tomorrow. Won’t you pray to the Bodhisattva for him, Miss?"
Lu Tong reached out, picking up a stick of incense and lighting it with the candle flame.
In the small shrine, the compassionate eyes of the Bodhisattva stared back at her—indifferent yet merciful.
She bowed thrice and planted the incense in the holder before speaking softly.
"Then I wish him success in the examinations, to ascend to the top rank, to be renowned across the land, to seize the laurels of victory."