Chapter 133: Setting Off by Boat

An hour and a half later, the donkey cart carrying the siblings arrived beside the dock.

Gazing at the ceaseless flow of the Yangtze River, the surging currents, the large vessels that occasionally appeared on the great river, and the densely moored merchant and passenger ships lining the pier, Lu Yun clicked his tongue and exclaimed, “I’ve never been here before; it’s truly bustling.”

Lu Ying turned to look at her younger brother, pondering the saying of gaining knowledge through extensive reading and worldly experience—perhaps this was a chance to travel around for a while? No, they lacked the funds, and A Yun’s knowledge was still insufficient. It would have to wait a couple more years.

As she was lost in thought, a carriage suddenly stopped beside her, and a familiar male voice called out, “Lady Lu.”

Lu Ying turned around.

She met the gaze of a man dressed in azure, his smile faint — Zhilu.

She hadn’t expected to see him so soon and was momentarily taken aback.

Zhilu glanced briefly at Lu Yun before turning back to Lu Ying with a smile. “Lady Lu, I’ve come to remind you to settle in Jiangzhou. You are wise and surely understand that this request is best not refused.”

Lu Ying looked at him.

Zhilu looked at her.

He offered no explanation, but even without words, Lu Ying understood. He feared that their master still harbored interest in her and that if she slipped entirely from their grasp, they would have no way to account for it. Thus, he was delineating a boundary for her—ordering her to remain obediently within that range until their master forgot her completely.

Lu Ying smiled faintly and nodded briskly. “Very well, one year’s time. After a year, we leave Jiangzhou.”

Zhilu did not object.

His silence was acceptance. Lu Ying turned and took Lu Yun’s hand to leave. Seeing Zhilu still watching them, she raised an eyebrow and smiled. “What, Guard Zhilu wants to come along too?”

Zhilu smiled, his gaze complicated as he looked at Lu Ying. He sighed softly, “I have never met a lady like you, A Ying. Many can calmly face others’ difficulties, but to remain composed and serene through such upheavals—there are very few.”

He nodded respectfully. “Take care, Lady.”

The carriage turned and departed.

After spending the night at a guesthouse near the dock, the next day at noon, the passenger ship bound for Jiangzhou arrived.

Boarding smoothly, the siblings settled into their assigned cabin.

Lu Yun had never been to the Yangtze before. Leaning against the cabin window, he eagerly watched the rushing river. The fourteen-year-old boy had already shed the unease he once held and happily embraced this rare journey.

For him, home was wherever his sister was. As long as she was present, no hardship mattered.

While Lu Yun delighted in the river’s beauty, Lu Ying busied herself arranging their belongings.

After a while, she said, “A Yun, the bamboo slips back home are too heavy. I’ve only brought five Confucian classics. Last time at the Xiao residence, I heard that some noble families in Luoyang only study one classic and master it. From now on, let’s focus on these five.”

Lu Yun responded with a soft “Mm.”

After some thought, he turned and asked, “Sister, are we really going to Jiangzhou?”

Lu Ying nodded and explained, “The reason I left Chengdu is that I offended many people there and drew too much attention. No one in Jiangzhou knows us, so it’s a fresh start.”

She looked up at Lu Yun, speaking earnestly: “A Yun, from now on, you will be Lu Wen. You will no longer have a sister—only an elder brother.”

Lu Yun was momentarily stunned but nodded. “Okay.”

The day waned.

Beneath a bright moon, the river reflected fragmented moonlight. Dark mountains loomed in the distance, as if lurking. From the high peaks on either side came the calls of birds and monkeys, the roars of tigers and wolves.

All of this was new and wondrous to Lu Yun. He and Lu Ying stood at the ship’s prow, leaning on the railing, enchanted by the scene.

This passenger ship was even larger than the one Lu Ying had taken before, with over a hundred passengers aboard. Not far off, a group of youths gathered around several beautiful girls adorned with gold and jewels, laughing together. Lu Yun turned to watch them, his eyes sparkling.

He then looked back at Lu Ying, who was gazing toward the distant riverbank. He called softly, “Sister…” but immediately corrected himself, “Big brother.” After saying it, he frowned and muttered, “That sounds awkward.”

Lu Ying glanced back, smiling gently. “You’ll get used to it after saying it a few more times.”

Lu Yun muttered and gestured toward her, “Sister—no, Big Brother—you’re still taller than me. I’ve grown a lot recently.”

Lu Ying chuckled softly. “Perhaps Heaven thinks it better for me to be a man, so you grow fast. Your big brother is busy growing taller too.”

Her lighthearted manner, unfazed by the change, brought joy to Lu Yun’s heart. He laughed, “Big Brother sounds smoother already. By the way, shall I go chat over there?”

Lu Ying was about to agree when she noticed someone approaching and smiled, “Someone’s coming.”

Sure enough, two youths dressed as scholars approached. Upon nearing, they bowed respectfully.

“One, two brothers, fate has brought us together. Why not join us for a gathering?” one said.

The other scrutinized the siblings, then sighed appreciatively, “You two are truly outstanding among men.” Especially the taller one, whose elegant demeanor naturally drew attention.

Their invitation was sincere, and Lu Ying did not refuse. She let her brother go with them first and lingered by the river breeze before slowly following.

As she neared, the group was laughing merrily. A girl boasted proudly, “You don’t understand. My clan uncle’s family is one of the most powerful in Jiangzhou now. They have built four gardens; the rocks in the rockeries were specially transported from Hangzhou. And a single meal can cost ten taels of gold. At night, candles burn inside their houses.”

At the girl’s boasting, the youths often exclaimed in admiration.

Lu Ying suppressed a smile, glancing past the girl toward Lu Yun.

He stood in a corner, animatedly debating with the two scholars. From afar, Lu Ying heard him say excitedly, “The sage’s words are true, but your interpretation is completely wrong…”

Seeing Lu Yun in such good spirits, Lu Ying felt a surge of happiness.

Perhaps due to her own talent or her smile at the wrong moment, the boastful girl suddenly called out, “Why are you laughing? Do you think I’m wrong?”

Lu Ying turned.

The youths surrounding the girl were startled and turned to look at her.

The girl’s eyes sparkled even brighter upon seeing Lu Ying’s refined features and her moon-white, impeccably fitting Confucian robe, which gave her a particularly elegant aura. The girl could not comprehend the quality of the fabric; to her, wealth was all about outward display. A wealthy woman must be adorned with gold and silver, a rich man with jade pendants and pearl-adorned shoes.

Since Lu Ying bore no such embellishments, she was naturally seen as an ordinary scholar.

After scanning Lu Ying with gleaming eyes, the girl, restraining her excitement, called again, “Why did you laugh just now? Don’t tell me I’m wrong?”

She simply wanted to attract Lu Ying’s attention.

Lu Ying glanced at her, not wanting trouble, bowed lightly, and smiled, “What you say is naturally correct.”

The girl beamed with pride, lifting her sharp chin and snorting. Yet, unwilling to let Lu Ying off so easily, she added, “This is your first time in Jiangzhou, isn’t it? Listen, your clan uncle is very influential. If he thinks you have talent, he might recommend you to study at the Qingying Academy here.”

At the mention of “Qingying Academy,” several youths in Confucian robes sighed softly. The academy’s reputation in Jiangzhou was evidently splendid.

Seeing their admiration, the girl grew even more haughty, glancing around before arrogantly saying, “Hey, beg me, and maybe I’ll persuade my clan uncle to let you study there too.”

This little lady spoke so bluntly about her intentions.

Lu Ying couldn’t help but smile secretly, wondering what kind of mistreatment such a temperament might suffer in her clan uncle’s household.

Seeing Lu Ying smile again, the girl’s face flushed deeper as she bit her lip and stared at her, “You don’t believe me?”

Lu Ying said, “No, I believe you.” She nodded and smiled once more before turning and strolling casually toward Lu Yun’s direction.

Even after Lu Ying’s figure disappeared into the darkness, the girl stood there foolishly watching her, her ears still burning in the quiet.

Lu Yun was still enjoying lively conversation with the two scholars, and Lu Ying did not interrupt, standing nearby to quietly admire the scenery.

If there was any difference between this journey and their previous destitution, it was not only the additional tens of taels of gold. For Lu Ying, the greater treasure was how much she had grown since the beginning. The current Lu Wen was completely different from the village girl Lu Ying of before.

That was true wealth.

Lu Ying thought: the house in Chengdu, the restaurant, the reputation she had built—all were illusions. Only these experiences, knowledge, insight, and perspective belonged uniquely to her and shadowed her inseparably. With these, she had always felt at ease and believed that reclaiming fame and fortune was not as difficult as it once seemed.

After some debate, Lu Yun suddenly spotted his sister and eagerly bounced toward her, calling, “Big Brother.”

This time the address flowed smoothly. Lu Ying smiled and nodded. “Well done, keep it up.”

Lu Yun’s face darkened; he snorted, then mimicked her leaning on the railing and whispered, “Sister, what are you thinking about?”

Lu Ying said, “I suddenly realized that as Lu Wen, my start in Jiangzhou will be far more interesting than when I first arrived in Chengdu.” In the darkness, her eyes gleamed brightly. “Just now, that Miss Fan mentioned her clan uncle’s influence at Qingying Academy, which reminded me… A Yun, perhaps in Jiangzhou, I can try to attach myself to a noble family as a retainer or advisor. Or I could visit one of the academies; maybe there’s a suitable position for me there.” (To be continued)