Ya She

Chapter 16 Kunwu Knife
During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty.

Lu Zigang stood in the prison cart, staring blankly ahead. This was the capital city where he had lived for several years, and he knew that when the prison cart turned into Xisi Archway, his life would come to an end.

The West Market was the most bustling street in the capital. He used to frequent that area, but he never imagined that the last time he would go there would be as a prisoner.

Not long ago, he was a highly favored imperial craftsman, but he never imagined that he would be killed simply for carving his name on a jade dragon head. People say he was arrogant and disrespectful to the emperor, but he didn't think he had done anything wrong.

That man always said that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger, and it's certainly true. It's a pity that he can never go back to that antique shop called "Silent Shop," can he?
Perhaps because of the recent large number of executions, the passersby remained calm as they saw the prison cart, quickly turning their heads away without even lingering on it. Only a few seven- or eight-year-old children ran alongside the cart, laughing and singing a clear nursery rhyme: "Pingze Gate, draw the big bow, past it's Chaotian Palace. Chaotian Palace, write big characters, past it's White Pagoda Temple."

Looking at those tiny figures, Lu Zigang vaguely recalled that when he first met her, she was about the same age.

Throughout his life, he carved countless beautiful jade pieces, from smoky quartz plum blossom vases to celadon jade boxes depicting landscapes and figures, and celadon jade ewers with children playing designs. He was confident that his craftsmanship was unmatched in the world. However, no one knew that those exquisite objects that have been passed down through generations were not his most beloved works.

He laboriously opened his palm, and in his calloused hand lay a crystal-clear, smooth jade longevity lock.

The finest jade, its texture snow-white and delicate, its color like the bright full moon on a clear autumn night, and like her fair and clean skin in his memory. He caressed the longevity lock with reluctance, as if he were offending her face.

Lu Zigang noticed the greedy gazes of the soldiers beside him, but he paid no attention to them, simply looking down at the patterns on the surface.

"Living to a hundred years old... it really is just a beautiful wish," Lu Zigang murmured to himself. He had carved those four words on this piece of jade with such piety, hoping that she would live to a hundred years old.

A vivid memory surfaced before his eyes; his voice, his smile, were clear as day, as if he were walking right there. The soldier beside him withdrew his gaze, thinking there was no rush. Once noon had passed, this longevity lock would no longer belong to this man.

The children playing were called back by the adults, but the clear, melodious nursery rhyme still drifted from afar: "Emperor's Temple, around the gourd, the land wall is the Four Archways; East of the Four Archways, West of the Four Archways, Under the Four Archways, secondhand clothes are sold."

Lu Zigang gripped the longevity lock tightly in his hand again.

This was the most precious thing he had in his life, and also the only thing he could hold onto in the end.

The tall eaves of the Four Archways are already close at hand.

twenty years ago.

Lu Zigang stood on Guanqian Street, the most bustling street in Suzhou, took a deep breath, tightened his bag, and walked forward on the moss-covered bluestone path.

He was ten years old and this was his first time in such a bustling market. Looking at the crowds coming and going, Lu Zigang looked down at his ragged clothes and, feeling ashamed, hid himself in the shadows of the street as he shuffled along. As he passed a restaurant, the rich aroma of food wafted over, and he couldn't help but stop, his stomach rumbling loudly.

"Where did this little beggar come from? Get out of my way!"

Lu Zigang awkwardly retreated to a narrow alleyway. After checking that no one was around, he took out his dry rations. He first took a deep sniff of the aroma of vegetables wafting through the air before taking a bite of the now-hardened steamed bun in his hand.

He was young, but he had already witnessed the harsh realities of life. His parents had both drowned in a boat accident on Taihu Lake five years ago, leaving him all alone. None of his relatives wanted to take care of this boy who was already half-grown, so he was eventually adopted by his uncle. However, he didn't stay for more than a few years before his aunt kicked him out.

He once had a happy family, his parents doting on him. But that past happiness was like the spring sun, bright and beautiful, yet he could reach out and touch nothing. He couldn't even feel the lingering warmth.

Lu Zigang blankly withdrew his hand, grasped the cold steamed bun again, and lowered his head to hide the disappointment in his eyes.

He had imagined countless times that if his parents hadn't taken the boat that day, or if they had taken a later ferry, he certainly wouldn't be standing so dejectedly on the streets of Suzhou now. But fate is not so easily predicted.

He knew his uncle had a hard life too. His family was poor to begin with, and he had three children. When he was young, his uncle could at least share a meal with him, but as the children grew older, he simply couldn't afford to support them anymore. Although his uncle was a jade carver who handled exquisite jade materials, he had a low social status, and the processing fees were skimmed off at each level, leaving him with very little money.

Lu Zigang chewed the tasteless steamed bun with relish, carefully breaking it into pieces before swallowing. He was still young and too old for farm work, so he had been learning jade carving from his uncle for the past few years. His uncle said he was sending him to Suzhou to recommend him as an apprentice at an antique shop. But that was probably unreliable, since his uncle hadn't brought him here personally; he'd only given him the address and name of the antique shop, without even mentioning the owner's name.

Perhaps, he was abandoned.

Lu Zigang looked at the half-eaten steamed bun in his hand. Although he was still very hungry, he decided to keep it. Maybe it could be his dinner.

But his small wish was not fulfilled. A child rushed out of the shadows of the alley and bumped into Lu Zigang's back. The half-eaten steamed bun in his hand flew out and rolled away before stopping.

Lu Zigang ignored the reckless culprit and ran out to pick up the half-eaten steamed bun from the ground, carefully brushing off the sand.

"Hey! It's so dirty, you can't eat it!" With a sweet, innocent voice, the child squatted down in front of him. Lu Zigang first saw a pair of tiger-head shoes, then slowly raised his head.

A lovely little girl was smiling at him. The sun shone on her, creating a dazzling golden halo that made her so beautiful that it was hard to look directly at her.

This is a picture he secretly treasured for his entire life.

He stared blankly at the beautiful little girl, at her two little braids swaying as she shook her head. He wanted to reach out and tug at them, but then he realized his fingers were covered in dust, and he withdrew his hand in shame.

A smooth little hand grabbed his hand as he tried to pull away. The hand was so small it could only hold a few of his fingers. A clear, bell-like laugh rang out: "Come on! I'll treat you to a meal!"

Lu Zigang stood up groggily, then quietly grasped that soft little hand in return. It was so soft, as if he could crush it with the slightest pressure. He loosened his grip a little, but couldn't bear to let go.

The little girl was probably only seven or eight years old, and she was not even as tall as his shoulder. From his angle, he could see the top of her head. Her two little braids bounced as she walked, making him feel dizzy for a moment.

Lu Zigang was led through the back door into the backyard of a restaurant, where they could still faintly hear the noisy conversations coming from the front. There was a half-grown gray mongrel in the yard. When it saw them come in, it didn't bark loudly, but instead wagged its tail and ran over, circling around their feet affectionately.

"Wait a minute, I'll go make you something to eat." The little girl let go of his hand and skipped over to the stove on the side, which should be the back kitchen of this restaurant. There were still a few plates of leftover food on it.

Lu Zigang swallowed hard, stepped forward and pulled the little girl aside, saying hesitantly, "No...no need for that, leftovers are fine."

The little girl raised her head, her eyes, as black as fine jade, sparkling with laughter: "No, no, I want to make it for you!"

She snatched the half-eaten, dusty steamed bun from his hand, tossed it to the greyhound, and turned to wash her hands. The greyhound sniffed it, swatted the bun away with one paw, and disdainfully lay back down in its original spot.

Lu Zigang had no choice but to follow behind her. After she washed her hands, she brought over a stool about half her height. Then, this little girl, who wasn't much taller than the stove, precariously stepped onto the stool and dangerously swung the spatula. Standing behind her, Lu Zigang felt it was incredibly dangerous, worried she might accidentally fall.
Before he could finish his thought, he heard the little girl cry out "Ouch!" and she was about to fall. Without thinking, Lu Zigang caught her from behind.

"You scared me to death! Thank you so much!" The little girl patted her chest, still shaken, and turned back to give him a sweet smile. Lu Zigang quickly shook his head, his face flushing again as he recalled touching her soft body.

The little girl skillfully put the cold rice into the pan, crisply cracked two eggs, and began to fry the rice. The smoke from the stove made her fair skin glow a beautiful red, and fine beads of sweat gathered on her forehead, which she wiped away before focusing on the fried rice in the pan again.

That serious expression captivated Lu Zigang.

Actually, the little girl was just making a very simple plate of fried rice, but looking at that bright, smiling face across the steaming plate of fried rice, Lu Zigang felt an indescribable warmth well up in his heart.

"Eat up! Eat up! See if it's good! My dad always says I don't cook well! I'm going to be a cook when I grow up! But he insists I have no talent!" The little girl hurriedly shoved a spoon into his hand and waited expectantly for his tasting results.

Lu Zigang scooped a spoonful and put it in his mouth. The rice was still a bit hard, a bit salty, and even the egg was a little undercooked, but...
“It’s delicious,” he said earnestly.

The little girl immediately smiled brightly, as dazzling as the sun in the sky.

Lu Zigang squinted, feeling a little uncomfortable with this enthusiasm.

"Hey, what's your name?" The little girl cupped her face, watching Lu Zigang eat his meal with great interest, a smug look spreading across her face. Her father always said her cooking was bad, that even Little Gray wouldn't eat it, a complete disaster. Nonsense! Look how happily he's eating.

After swallowing the food in his mouth, Lu Zigang clearly said, "Lu Zigang."

"Furnace Steel? What a strange name!" The little girl wrinkled her fair face, making it look like the pleats of a steamed bun, which was extremely cute.

Lu Zigang smiled and lowered his head to continue eating. He didn't ask the little girl's name; although he was young, he knew that a girl's name shouldn't be casually revealed to others. Even though the little girl in front of him wasn't quite a girl yet.

The little girl seemed very interested in Lu Zigang, and forgetting that he was still eating, she kept asking him where he came from and where he was going. If it were any other stranger asking, Lu Zigang would probably be resistant, but facing this little girl, he honestly told her everything about himself.

"How pitiful!" The little girl wasn't good at hiding her feelings; what she thought was directly reflected on her face.

Lu Zigang could tell that the little girl grew up in a happy family. Although her clothes weren't particularly luxurious, they were clean and tidy, indicating that she had loving parents. He didn't want to feel sad or pity because of her situation, so he smiled and said, "Actually, my uncle is doing this for my own good. I want to become a jade carver in the future, but how can ordinary families have jade materials for me to practice with? Nor can they have jade carvings for me to copy. So my uncle introduced me to an antique shop as an apprentice."

These were the words his uncle had said to him last night. He had only vaguely understood them at the time, thinking that his uncle was just finding an excuse to send him away. But now, looking back calmly, he realized that they made some sense.

The little girl blinked her clear, black-and-white eyes, thought hard for a long time, and asked, "What is a fish catcher? Does it mean catching fish? If you catch a fish in the future, you can come to me, and I will definitely cook it for you deliciously!"

Lu Zigang smiled and explained, "It's a jade carver, someone who carves jade from a piece of raw jade." He hesitated, as it was difficult to explain what a jade carver was to a child who was only seven or eight years old. He didn't have a piece of jade with him to use as an example; the ones he had polished before had all been taken away by his aunt.

"Jade? Oh, I have one too!" The little girl finally understood that Lu Zigang was talking about "jade" instead of "fish," and excitedly pulled out a red string from around her neck, with a piece of white jade the size of a baby's palm attached to the end.

Lu Zigang was immediately stunned when he saw the jade, which was as smooth and white as mutton fat. Although his uncle was poor, Suzhou jade carving was the best in the world, and the jade materials he processed for others were often of the highest quality. He had been fortunate enough to see a few pieces, including one that was a tribute to the imperial palace, but none of them were as good as the piece in front of him.

Moreover, this was still an uncarved jade stone. If it were carefully polished, Lu Zigang would immediately close her hand, cover the jade, and solemnly instruct her, "Little sister, don't take this jade out in front of others." Although he was young, he still knew the principle that possessing a treasure is a crime.

The little girl pouted. Actually, her father had told her about this before, but she had gotten carried away! "Then you have to become a jade carver in the future and carve a beautiful jade piece for me!"

"Okay," Lu Zigang agreed with a smile, but then added, "Before I become a jade carver, you can't let anyone else carve this jade, and don't show it to other jade carvers casually." After all, such a rare and beautiful jade would be of considerable value to any jade carver with a discerning eye. If someone were to harbor ill intentions, then this little girl would...
"Oh!" The little girl nodded as if she understood, "By the way, this jade was given to me by the owner of the antique shop next door!" Since it was given to her casually, it must not be very valuable! The little girl thought to herself, puzzled.

Lu Zigang had assumed that such a valuable piece of jade must have been passed down through the little girl's family for generations, but he hadn't expected it to be a gift from someone else. Lu Zigang subconsciously asked, "Antique shop? What's it called?"

The little girl tilted her head and thought for a moment, then laughed and said, "What a strange name! It's called 'Dumb'."

The Silent Shop? Lu Zigang hurriedly pulled out the note his uncle had given him, and sure enough!

Lu Zigang never imagined that fate could be such a wonderful word. He thought it was just a chance encounter over a meal, but he never expected that the antique shop he was going to seek refuge in was right next to this girl's restaurant.

Perhaps, this is fate.

To his surprise, the owner of the Silent Shop looked very young. He wore an exquisitely embroidered robe, had a pair of slender phoenix eyes, and an indifferent expression. After listening quietly to his purpose, the owner nodded slightly and led him to the backyard to prepare a side room for him to stay in.

Lu Zigang settled into the antique shop. He was a man of few words, and the owner was even more so; the shop rarely saw more than a few customers a day. This gloomy antique shop truly lived up to its name, "The Silent Shop." At first, Lu Zigang wasn't used to the atmosphere, but as time went on, he gradually calmed down. Initially, he would occasionally visit the restaurant next door, almost blurting out the little girl's name several times, but each time the words caught in his throat. Not long after, the little girl went to the capital with her family; this separation would likely be for life.

In Lu Zigang's heart, the chance encounter with that bright and cheerful little girl was the most beautiful moment of his life. But it was nothing more than a pebble thrown into a lake; although it created ripples, the lake would eventually return to calm with the passage of time.

Meeting her was the best thing that had ever happened to him since he was born. But after such a wonderful encounter came separation; fate truly loves to play tricks on people. From that day on, Lu Zigang rarely left the Silent Shop, becoming increasingly silent and withdrawn.

Lu Zigang's daily work at the Silent Shop was simple; he only needed to clean the shop and wipe the dust off the ornaments. In the rest of the time, he could examine the jade artifacts and even play with them at will.

Everything in this antique shop is absolutely a treasure.

But while the items in the shop were indeed valuable, they were far less valuable than the jade rough stone hanging around the little girl's neck. Could the owner really give away something so precious so easily? Lu Zigang knew it wasn't good to speculate, but having stayed there for a while, he also knew that this antique shop contained all sorts of strange and unusual things.

For example, the chipped candle in the west wing burned endlessly; the Yue King's sword in the brocade box under the counter occasionally emitted a buzzing sound; the crimson dragon on the shopkeeper's robe was so lifelike. As Lu Zigang pondered these things, he couldn't help but glance at the shopkeeper reading behind the counter. The shopkeeper was dressed in ancient Hanfu, yet surprisingly, it didn't feel out of place at all, as if he had become one with the antique shop. The dragon head on his cuffs moved and danced with the turning of his pages, as if it were alive.

The shopkeeper closed the book in his hand, looked at Lu Zigang with a faint smile, and said, "Zigang, I heard you hope to become a jade carver in the future?"

Lu Zigang immediately sat up straight and respectfully replied, "Yes."

The boss squinted and thought for a moment, then stood up and said, "Wait a moment."

Lu Zigang watched with a puzzled expression as the shopkeeper went upstairs to the second floor. He knew that the Silent Shop was actually quite large, and the items displayed on the first floor were only a small part of it. Although he could move around freely, his area was limited to the first floor. He had never been up to the second floor before. After a while, he heard footsteps approaching, and the shopkeeper came down carrying a dusty wooden box. Upon seeing this, Lu Zigang wrung out a rag from the basin and quickly handed it to him.

The shopkeeper casually wiped the wooden box, then opened it towards Lu Zigang, saying, "This is a Kunwu knife; it's for you."

A small knife lay quietly in the wooden box, its menacing gleam making him almost stop breathing. The knife was entirely black, only seven inches long, with smooth lines, a glossy sheen, and a sharp, straight blade—exquisitely crafted, almost like a work of art. Most astonishingly, the knife was made of an unknown material; the blade and hilt were seamlessly integrated, entirely black, with peculiar wavy patterns on the blade.

"I only have a jade carving knife here. I don't know where the jade cutting knife has ended up," the shopkeeper explained calmly, knowing Lu Zigang's doubts, and picked up the jade carving knife to show him.

Sure enough, Lu Zigang saw a complex seal script character at the bottom of the hilt. He didn't know many characters, but he knew that it should be the character "铻".

"The Record of the Ten Continents Within the Seas in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Fenglin Continent, says: 'In the time of King Mu of Zhou, the Western Hu presented a Kunwu jade-cutting knife, which could cut jade as easily as cutting mud.'" The shopkeeper handed the Kunwu knife to Lu Zigang, saying, "Since you are determined to become a jade carver, then you can take this Kunwu knife and use it."

Lu Zigang took the sword blankly. It felt heavy and icy cold in his hand, unlike an ordinary iron blade; it seemed more like stone. He stroked the blade with obvious affection, feeling the cold blade slowly warm up through his body heat. He couldn't help but ask, "This isn't made of iron, is it?"

The boss was very pleased with Lu Zigang's undisguised appreciation; in his view, this was far better than letting the Kunwu knife gather dust in the shadows. "Have you ever heard the saying, 'Stones from other mountains can be used to polish jade'? The Kunwu knife is made from stones from other mountains."

"Jade from another mountain?" Lu Zigang touched the blade with his fingers. He had watched his uncle carve jade since he was a child. In the trade, jade carving wasn't called jade sculpting, but rather jade working, or jade polishing. The tools for jade polishing weren't knives, but rather jade-polishing tools made by gradually grinding the jade with a mixture of abrasive and water using a disc or wheel. If this knife could truly cut jade like mud, then it would truly be a deadly weapon.

"I have some jade here, take it and practice." The shopkeeper took out another box, and because of his movements, there was a crisp sound from inside the box, which indicated that it contained high-quality raw jade stones.

Lu Zigang pursed his lips, holding the razor blade that was now as warm as his own body temperature. He spoke with difficulty, "Boss, I..." Although he suspected that his boss sometimes gave away valuable items casually, Lu Zigang found it hard to accept this moment. In the years he had grown up, he had learned about equal exchange. In this world, who would be kind to another person for no reason?
The boss seemed to see through Lu Zigang's worries and chuckled, "Don't think I'm just giving you practice for free. I want you to become the best jade carver in the world, a versatile expert, to polish a piece of jade for me."

Lu Zigang paused for a moment, then nodded firmly and said, "Okay, I will try my best!" The boss's smile faded, and he solemnly instructed, "Use this halberd carefully. Be careful when using it, don't let it get stained with human blood, and never use it to kill."

Lu Zigang nodded heavily again.

In the days that followed, Lu Zigang devoted himself to studying jade carving techniques. This was no easy task. As the saying goes, gold has a price, but beautiful jade is priceless. Each piece of jade has unique patterns, and if one is not careful and makes a mistake, the entire piece of jade will be ruined.

Lu Zigang had experienced failures before, and whenever he felt disheartened, he would recall the first time the little girl made fried rice for him.

Although it was just a small thing, he couldn't forget it.

The boss asked him to carve a piece of jade for him. The little girl also had a piece of exquisite jade around her neck. When his skills were honed to the point that the boss was satisfied, could he carve a piece of jade for her if he met the little girl again?
If fate allows them to meet again, he will definitely... definitely.
He gripped the halberd in his hand tightly, focusing once again on honing his craftsmanship.

As night deepened, the shopkeeper, carrying a lantern, passed by the backyard and saw that Lu Zigang's room was still lit. He looked inside and saw that the room was dimly lit, but Lu Zigang was completely oblivious, engrossed in carving the eyebrows and eyes of a human figure, stroke by stroke. Scattered around the room were some jade materials and several unfinished works.

The jade teapots, cups, and trinkets he carved, though all unfinished, were already exquisitely beautiful. His horses seemed poised to gallop at any moment; his fish appeared ready to swim gracefully the moment they entered the water; his flowers seemed to exude an alluring fragrance the moment you approached them.
The shopkeeper went into Lu Zigang's room and added some lamp oil, making the room bright again. Lu Zigang, however, still seemed oblivious to everything, as if his entire soul was focused on the jade carving in his hand.

The boss looked at the somewhat familiar face and quietly left, closing the door behind him.

Ah, he wasn't wrong about him after all. This young man named Lu Zigang will one day create the best work for him.
五

Ten years later, in the Imperial City of Kyoto.

Xia Zhelan smoothed her hair and followed Eunuch Li through the back door of the Imperial Kitchen. As a member of the Imperial Kitchen, she often visited the confectionery room, but her visit today was not solely for that purpose.

The Imperial Household Department, located outside the Xihua Gate, was the largest of the four departments, eight bureaus, and twelve directorates of the Ming Dynasty. The Imperial Household Department and her own department, the Imperial Kitchen Department, were the most lucrative and largest. The "Shang" in Imperial Kitchen Department meant "respected" or "honored," and "Shan" meant food. The Imperial Kitchen Department was in charge of preparing imperial meals, palace food, tributes to the Fengxian Hall, and food for various inner court departments within the imperial city. Xia Zhelan wasn't a high-ranking figure in the Imperial Kitchen Department; she had only become a cook thanks to a few family recipes.

As for the Imperial Workshop, it was the inner court department in charge of manufacturing items exclusively for the emperor. Although it served only the emperor, everything in the palace, from large pieces of furniture and dragon beds to small items like writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, was exclusively for the emperor's use. The imperial seals and seals had to be made by the Imperial Workshop, and even the boxes for holding the seals had to be complete and unique. The Imperial Workshop occupied a vast area, with the outer and main warehouses to the east, the greenhouse to the west, the ice cellar to the south, and further inwards, the central hall. To the left and right were the four main workshops: the Buddhist workshop, the lamp workshop, the jade carving workshop, and the wood and lacquer workshop. The remaining areas were scattered with countless smaller workshops.

Every time Xia Zhelan came to the Imperial Household Department, it took her a long time to walk. Eunuch Li, who was with her, said with a forced smile, "Miss Xia, you've done us such a great favor this time, we are truly grateful!"

Xia Zhelan smiled sweetly and said, "Eunuch Li, you flatter me. We're just doing our jobs for money, so let's settle things one thing at a time." Although the Imperial Kitchen was also responsible for the meals of the Inner Court, it didn't deliver food to them every day. Instead, they sent people directly to the Inner Court. Each Inner Court had its own meals, and they just took turns. However, the menus prepared by these people on duty didn't change much each day. If someone wanted special meals, they had to go to a restaurant outside or contact the Imperial Kitchen privately to hire these cooks.

Eunuch Li's smile grew even brighter. He liked Xia Zhelan because she was reasonable and sensible, which would save him from future entanglements and trouble.

"But why did you suddenly decide to invite me this time, Eunuch Li?" Xia Zhelan asked, puzzled. She wasn't considered a prominent figure in the Imperial Kitchen; at best, she was just a menial worker.

Eunuch Li sighed and said, "Isn't this a jade carver we invited from Suzhou? Our company is planning to welcome him and is looking for a cook who can cook his hometown dishes. Miss Xia doesn't need to cook much, just three or four people. Six dishes and a soup will be enough. Our family has already prepared the ingredients."

Xia Zhelan responded. Six dishes and a soup sounded easy, but deciding what to cook required some thought. Luckily, it was dinner, and she could manage. She always cooked her hometown dishes, so there wouldn't be any problems. Seeing Li Gonggong's nervous look, she couldn't help but laugh and say, "Father-in-law, you're really lucky you invited me. If you had invited someone else, they probably wouldn't have been able to cook so many dishes."

Only then did Eunuch Li feel relieved, and he no longer thought Xia Zhelan was exaggerating. There were very few all-rounders in the Imperial Kitchen. The Food Preparation Bureau alone was subdivided into more than ten departments, including the Soup Department, Meat Department, Vegetarian Department, Dim Sum Department, and Dry Goods Department, plus departments for preparing other dishes such as winemaking, vinegar brewing, and sauce making. Many eunuchs and cooks only knew how to cook one type of dish. The young lady Xia he had invited, he heard, was the heir to a restaurant before entering the capital; preparing a table of Suzhou cuisine shouldn't be a problem for her.

With his mind at ease, Eunuch Li naturally became more talkative. As they chatted, they walked faster. It was the time when the craftsmen were entering the capital for their morning shifts, and the Imperial Household Department was starting to fill up. Eunuch Li was clearly well-liked and held a high official position, so craftsmen or eunuchs greeted him from time to time.

Xia Zhelan was not young for a woman in the capital; if her parents hadn't passed away from illness one after another, she would have been married long ago. However, taking advantage of the absence of parents to make decisions for her, she lived quite comfortably on her own. The further they went into the jade workshop, the more arrogant the craftsmen became. Sometimes, when Eunuch Li went up to greet them first, they were ignored; more often, they were treated as if they didn't exist.

Eunuch Li said with a wry smile, "Miss Xia, please don't mind. That's just how jade carvers are. If they have offended you in any way, I'll apologize to you in advance."

Xia Zhelan raised an eyebrow in surprise: "What? You're putting on airs?"

She knew that skilled craftspeople often had a high opinion of themselves, but this was the capital city, a place where the world's most talented people gathered, and it was hard to say whose skill was superior. Besides, she always felt that jade carvers shouldn't be like that; they should be gentler and more honest.
Eunuch Li sighed and explained, "Miss Xia, you don't know this, but the Imperial Kitchen has a very detailed division of labor. It's rare for two people to cook the same dish, is it?"

Xia Zhelan nodded. The dishes were numerous, and many were prepared by a single person who cooked several different dishes. Eunuch Li continued, “When you cook in the Imperial Kitchen, you must strictly follow the recipes. Even adding a single ingredient requires extensive research, for fear of any adverse effects on the Holy Body. So, who actually cooks it isn't really the point. With the recipes, it doesn't matter who cooks it. But the Imperial Workshop is different. The beds, cabinets, dining tables, lamps, etc., placed in each palace, although there are regulations, generally allow craftsmen more freedom to improvise. This is even more true in the jade workshop. Let's not even talk about the materials; think about it, those jade pieces are made to be displayed on tables for people to use and play with. Can they be the same as the tables and chairs for sitting and lying down?”

Xia Zhelan understood immediately. If it were her, she wouldn't have noticed anything special about the table and chairs, but an exquisite jade piece was different. No two pieces of jade are exactly alike, and the carving makes it even more remarkable. A skilled jade carver can create a jade artifact that is truly unique in the world. You can eat food again and again, but you'll eventually get tired of it. However, jade becomes more delicate and spirited the more you handle it, and it can be passed down through the ages.

After pondering it thoroughly, Xia Zhelan felt a surge of admiration. She also thought that those jade carvers had every right to be aloof, and couldn't help but touch the raw jade stone beneath her clothes. She vaguely remembered someone saying they wanted to become a jade carver, but it was so long ago that she could only recall a few fragmented images, and the details were unclear.

Snapping out of her reverie, Xia Zhelan noticed that Eunuch Li was still muttering complaints in a low voice, and couldn't help but echo his tone, saying, "Eunuch Li has really worked hard."

Eunuch Li suddenly found Xia Zhelan more pleasing to the eye and sighed, "Actually, the jade craftsmen here are quite good, and they're not exactly short-tempered. The one the Master Chef invited this time is a renowned jade carver from Suzhou. Every piece of jade he makes bears his unique mark. In all my years in the jade carving industry, I've never seen anyone so arrogant. So, Miss Xia, please be extra careful today and make sure they don't find anything wrong with it!"

Xia Zhelan nodded outwardly, but secretly curled her lip. For such an important meal, they only invited her as the cook. It seemed that Eunuch Li was worried that inviting too many people would cause the other jade carvers to find fault. However, even the head of the jade carving workshop personally came to accompany them, so they had to put in some effort for this extra income. Moreover, it was probably the first time that a cook had been invited to prepare a welcome feast alone, so that jade carver was definitely not an ordinary person.

The two turned a corner and entered a small, detached courtyard with its own kitchenette. Xia Zhelan pushed open the kitchen door and saw that all the necessary ingredients were fresh and clean, saving her the trouble of washing and preparing them—the preparations were very thorough. Eunuch Li had other matters to attend to, so he gave a few more instructions and then hurried away.

Xia Zhelan first simmered the chicken broth needed for the most time-consuming clear broth soup on the stove. This clear broth soup is a famous soup in Jiangsu cuisine. The first method of simmering chicken bones alone requires more than an hour of cooking, not to mention the second method of simmering red broth and the third method of simmering white broth. She calculated the time and knew it would be just in time for the dinner banquet.

After simmering the first bone broth in an earthenware pot and adding seasonings, Xia Zhelan began picking and choosing from a pile of ingredients. This dinner was not difficult to prepare, but the difficulty lay in the fact that this kitchen was not like the Imperial Kitchen, which had stoves everywhere. Here, there were only two stoves, and if several dishes were to be served at roughly the same time, it would take a lot of effort.

Xia Zhelan untied the cloth bag from her waist, revealing a completely black kitchen knife. The blade gleamed coldly, and the wavy patterns on its surface seemed to flow in the light. Xia Zhelan's expression softened. This was a family heirloom knife, passed down from her father to her—fifty generations ago. Every time she picked up this knife while cooking, she would think of her parents.

With a soft sigh, Xia Zhelan reached for the knife handle, but the moment her fingertips touched it, the blade vibrated slightly, emitting a clear, resonant hum. Startled, Xia Zhelan immediately took a step back, looking at the still-vibrating knife on the cutting board with suspicion.

Having heard countless legendary tales of swords protecting their masters in storytelling, Xia Zhelan's first thought was that this stranger had come to steal from the Imperial Household Department. She immediately stepped forward, grabbed the kitchen knife, and fiercely slashed at the uninvited guest.
This was Lu Zigang's first time visiting the capital.

In fact, he had already taken on a task from the Imperial Workshop. Usually, the Imperial Workshop would come to Suzhou to purchase jade materials, and only after the jade was carved would it be presented as tribute to the capital. Over the years, his reputation for jade carving had grown, and the Imperial Workshop had long been urging him to come to the capital for an official appointment.

Lu Zigang didn't want to come to the capital. Although the Imperial Workshop held supreme power, he could still complete the tasks assigned by it in Suzhou. Transporting and carrying jade pieces was very convenient—the saying circulating in the industry, "Though fine jade is gathered in the capital, the most skillful craftsmanship is found in Suzhou," was not without merit. What changed his mind was that the owner of the Silent Shop suddenly decided to move the shop to the capital.

For the past ten years, he had been living in the Silent Shop. When the Silent Shop moved, he naturally had to help, so he accepted the job at the Imperial Workshop. After the Silent Shop was settled, he went to the government office to get his pass to enter and leave the capital. The head of the Jade Carving Workshop had something to discuss with him that evening, but seeing that it was still early, he decided not to leave the capital.

Jade carving is divided into two major schools: Southern Jade and Northern Jade. Northern Jade is mainly made by craftsmen from the north, with simple and grand designs, while Southern Jade is mainly made by craftsmen from Suzhou, who generally produce small, exquisite, and delicate jade pieces. Many of the Southern Jade craftsmen in the Imperial Workshop were friends of Lu Zigang from his time in Suzhou, and he wanted to take this opportunity to visit them.

He declined the young eunuch's offer to lead the way, but he hadn't expected the jade-carving workshop to be so enormous. All the workshop numbers were composed of combinations of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches, but the order was randomized. To prevent outsiders from figuring out the layout in a short time, Lu Zigang felt like he had entered a giant maze. Most of the craftsmen were already at work, and he couldn't find anyone to ask.

Lu Zigang did consider knocking on doors and asking for directions, but as a fellow jade carver, he knew that jade carving required a seamless process. If someone disturbed him while he was carving, it might ruin his carving ideas. So Lu Zigang preferred to remain lost.

As he wandered aimlessly like a headless fly, Lu Zigang suddenly smelled a delicious aroma. Having often gone hungry as a child, Lu Zigang was extremely sensitive to the smell of good food, and he accurately followed the scent to a secluded courtyard.

As he stepped into the courtyard, he suddenly felt the halberd he always carried with him begin to vibrate, even emitting a slight humming sound. Lu Zigang was only stunned for a moment before his eyes lit up, and he could no longer suppress the surge of joy in his heart.

Having only possessed the Wu knife, he constantly thought about the whereabouts of the other Kun knife. The Wu knife was exquisite and could only be used to carve jade, making small jade artifacts. It was completely unsuitable for larger ornaments. Therefore, he kept thinking about the whereabouts of the Kun knife and pestered the shopkeeper for a long time. He learned that when the Kun knife was not far from the Wu knife, it might produce a chime due to the separation of thousands of years.

As a child, he took it as a joke, but as he spent more time at the Silent Shop, he witnessed countless unbelievable things. Through deliberate searching, he found some clues in ancient books. Legend has it that during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, the King of Chu ordered Mo Xie to forge a pair of swords. Mo Xie kept the male sword and presented the female sword to the King, leaving only the female sword in its sheath, weeping mournfully. Several ancient books record this story, though the accounts differ, they are essentially the same. Therefore, Lu Zigang held great hope that perhaps one day he could reclaim the Kunwu Blade.

He hadn't expected this moment to come so quickly. But then he thought about it, and his initial elation dimmed a little. Where was he? This was the jade-carving workshop of the Imperial Workshop in the capital, where almost all the world's top jade carvers gathered. Perhaps there were other jade carvers like him who had obtained the rolling knives used to cut jade.

However, Lu Zigang's somber expression quickly returned. It wasn't a bad thing that the Kun knife was in someone else's possession. During his years at the Silent Shop, what he found most unbearable was watching those spirited antiques silently gather dust in cabinets. Things are made to be used; otherwise, what value do they have?
These thoughts flashed through Lu Zigang's mind like lightning. After a brief moment of hesitation, he quickened his pace and walked forward. He was eager to meet the jade carvers who possessed the gong and exchange experiences. The courtyard was small and couldn't hide anyone. The further he walked, the louder the gong in his arms rang out.

Lu Zigang was frustrated. Because just ahead was a kitchen!

"The kitchen it is," Lu Zigang thought. "Perhaps the jade carver was eating, but eating with a large jade-cutting knife?" Despite his doubts, he quickened his pace and entered the kitchen. He first saw a girl standing there, his gaze sweeping over her, then his eyes widened in disbelief. If he wasn't mistaken, the knife on the cutting board, the same black material as the jade-cutting knife, should be a rolling pin! Why does it look so much like a kitchen knife?
This unexpected turn of events stunned Lu Zigang, leaving him completely bewildered even as the girl swung the rolling pin at him.
four

Don't assume that girls who can cook are all virtuous. In fact, girls who can chop meat and fish without batting an eye are subconsciously much more ruthless. They are not on the same level as those well-bred ladies who embroider and play with needles in their boudoirs! This is the truth that Lu Zigang instantly realized.

Lu Zigang had never been chased by someone with a knife in his life. Although the attack was sudden, his opponent was a woman, and he easily dodged by simply sidestepping. He felt a whistling sound of a blade past his ear and was so frightened that he quickly said, "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding! Don't attack!"

Xia Zhelan stopped, not because of what the other person said, but because of his accent. The familiar local accent that the other person spoke in his desperation immediately brought Xia Zhelan back to his senses, and he began to look the other person up and down.

The young man was about twenty years old, with delicate features, dressed in an elegant blue shirt, and possessed an extraordinary air; it was clear at a glance that he was not a bad person. Although Xia Zhelan felt somewhat embarrassed for swinging her knife at someone without asking any questions, she still frowned and asked righteously, "This is not a place you can just wander in."

Lu Zigang knew he had acted rashly, so he didn't bother to explain. He simply took out a small dagger from his pocket.

Xia Zhelan suddenly felt the cleaver in her hand buzz even louder, and involuntarily placed it on the cutting board. She could easily tell that the two knives were identical, and asked in surprise, "My dad didn't tell me there was a matching fruit knife!"

Fruit knife? Lu Zigang felt dizzy and it took him a long time to find his voice. He slowly explained the origin of the rolling knives, but the other party was not very interested and turned around to pick up the rolling knives and start cutting vegetables.

Although the movements were skillful and pleasing to the eye, they were incredibly jarring to Lu Zigang. That was an ancient katana! He couldn't help but say, "This katana is for cutting jade, not for chopping vegetables!"

Even with her back to him, Xia Zhelan could feel his sharp gaze. She turned around and chuckled, "Looking at me like that won't do any good. This knife is an heirloom from my family. I don't care what you mean by that. In my eyes, this is just a kitchen knife."

Lu Zigang was taken aback, realizing that what she said made sense; in her eyes, the dagger he'd been stabbed with was still just a fruit knife! Even knowing this, Lu Zigang couldn't quite process it for a moment, feeling that this girl was incredibly unreasonable, and instinctively retorted, "A dagger is a jade-carving knife!"

Xia Zhelan was taken aback upon hearing this. "You wouldn't happen to be the jade carver that Master Si is going to invite tonight, would you? The one who always signs his work?"

Hearing the provocation in her words, Lu Zigang retorted in a deep voice, "What's wrong with leaving a signature? Jade artifacts, like calligraphy and paintings, are works of art. But why can calligraphy and paintings leave signatures and increase in value because of a famous person's signature, while jade artifacts can't? I'm going to be the first person in the world to do so!"

This was the first time Lu Zigang had uttered such arrogant words. In the past, when others asked him about it, he would always give them high-sounding reasons. But today, facing this complete stranger, Lu Zigang suddenly felt that he could not treat her lightly.

This is indeed his realization over the years. In the Silent Shop, there are many famous jade artifacts from ancient times. He has been copying and playing with them for years, but he does not know who carved these exquisite jade artifacts. He does not want his works to end up like this. He wants his name to become a mark of history along with these jade artifacts.

Xia Zhelan stopped chopping vegetables at Lu Zigang's words. Such arrogant remarks, surprisingly, didn't sound harsh; instead, they inspired admiration. She knew why paintings and calligraphy had signatures, while jade carvings didn't. It was because the artists of paintings and calligraphy were mostly scholars or officials, some even princes or generals. But even the most famous jade carver was still just a craftsman. This man's actions were actually an attempt to elevate the status of craftsmen, which was truly courageous.

Since ancient times, the people have been divided into four classes: scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Scholars came first, farmers second, artisans third, and merchants lowest. The hierarchy was strict and insurmountable. Xia Zhelan had been the daughter of a merchant since childhood. Her family was wealthy, but she was not allowed to wear fine silks and satins, only coarse linen clothes. Therefore, although she felt Lu Zigang's actions were inappropriate, she couldn't help but admire him. Thinking this, her expression softened, and her face became gentle.

Lu Zigang calmed down and then noticed that the woman was beautiful, without any makeup, and her fair cheeks had a healthy blush. Her long hair was still styled like that of an unmarried girl. She looked vaguely familiar, and when he looked further down, he was stunned.

Xia Zhelan noticed him staring at her chest and felt a surge of anger, but unexpectedly, he stepped forward and said excitedly, "Miss, may I see the jade you're wearing?"

Xia Zhelan then noticed that because of her earlier movements, the jade rough stone she had worn since childhood was sticking out of her clothes. Still somewhat uncertain, she asked, "Are you really a jade carver?"

Lu Zigang took a few deep breaths, nodded slightly stiffly, and said, "Yes, I am Lu Zigang."

He was absolutely certain that this piece of jade was the one worn by that little girl. He never expected that after so many years, he would see her again. Lu Zigang stared intently at her face, which slowly overlapped with the face of the little girl from ten years ago.

Over the past decade, he has imagined countless times how that little girl from back then is doing now.

Has she fulfilled her dream of becoming a cook? Does she still wear that bright, sunny smile? Is she already married?
Lu Zigang knew that the dream in his heart was somewhat unrealistic. Not to mention how difficult it would be to find someone in this vast sea of ​​people whose name he didn't even know, she should be eighteen years old today. At that age, she should have been married long ago. But now a miracle was clearly happening in front of him.

Lu Zigang gripped the halberd in his hand tightly, then looked at the halberd in hers, feeling that fate had ordained their reunion. Yet, he also felt a vague unease.
"Lu Zigang?" Xia Zhelan tilted her head and repeated it, feeling that the name was familiar, but she couldn't remember it for a moment. Remembering that Eunuch Li had said that this person's jade carving skills were famous throughout the world, she thought that perhaps he was too famous and she might have heard of him at some point.

Lu Zigang stared at her intently, hoping to see some joy on her face after a long separation.

Seeing his somewhat nervous expression, Xia Zhelan joked, "I can show you this jade, but how about you carve a jade piece for me while you're at it?"

Lu Zigang felt a pang of disappointment. It seemed the little girl didn't remember him. No wonder, she was only seven or eight years old back then, and they hadn't known each other for long before they parted ways. It was understandable that she wouldn't remember him. But when he heard the little girl actually ask him to carve jade for her, and thought that his long-held wish was about to be fulfilled so easily, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

It doesn't matter if she doesn't remember him. Now that they've met again, she's not engaged yet, and she's become a somewhat famous jade carver. They have a very, very long time ahead of them. The feelings she's forgotten can start to be nurtured little by little from now on.

"Yes, let's start by carving the finest jade pendant for her." Actually, Xia Zhelan was just joking; she said it offhand. But to her surprise, the other person paused, then nodded, her expression incredibly serious. She hadn't taken off this jade for over ten years. Although she had considered finding a jade carver to create a design, she had never had the opportunity. And for some reason, every time she had this thought, a gentle voice inside her would stop her.

"I don't have money to pay you," Xia Zhelan said somewhat guiltily. In fact, she did have some money, but this person was able to have the head of the jade workshop personally welcome her. How could a mere cook like her afford such a high processing fee?
“This is the money I owe you for the meal,” Lu Zigang said with a smile. He was referring to the plate of fried rice she made for him when they first met.

Xia Zhelan assumed he was referring to the welcome banquet, raised an eyebrow, and without further hesitation, took off the jade pendant from her neck and handed it over. "I don't have any particular preference for the style, you can choose whatever you like."

Lu Zigang held the jade, still warm from the other person's body, in his hand, a warm feeling rising in his heart. He smiled and said, "Miss, you can come find me in the West Market later. I'm in an antique shop called Ya She." With that, he turned and left.

The Silent Shop? Hearing this even more familiar name, Xia Zhelan's unease deepened. She stood there for a long time, unable to process what she had heard of it.

Just then, Xia Zhelan saw Eunuch Li walk in and said apologetically to her, "Miss Xia, Master Lu just said he has something to do tonight and has canceled the welcome banquet. Thank you for your help today, and we will still give you the fee we agreed on before."

That's quite the big shot, not even giving the Chief Judge any face. Did they leave in such a hurry because they wanted their jade to be carved?
Xia Zhelan stuck out her tongue and said with a smile, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch. I'll be going now." Each palace garden in the palace has a small kitchen, and the people from the Imperial Kitchen take turns helping out in the small kitchen. She had switched shifts with someone else, and if she went back now, she might not have to bother anyone else. She could go to Consort Duan's place for her shift as originally arranged.

As for the Silent Shop... well, let's wait until she finishes her rotation before going there.
Xia Zhelan washed the halberd in her hand clean and wrapped it in cloth again.

Lu Zigang caressed the smooth and lustrous jade in his hand, repeatedly examining its shape and sketching out various pendant designs in his mind.

What should he carve? A Buddha statue? A jade ruyi? A Buddha's hand? But Lu Zigang kept getting distracted, his mind filled with that beautiful face, and he couldn't concentrate.

His wish wasn't actually that big. Having lost both his parents at a young age, all he wanted was a complete family. But over the years, no matter how many delicious delicacies he had eaten, nothing could compare to that undercooked fried rice from ten years ago.

She's not married yet. Thinking of her French hairstyle, which still resembles that of an unmarried girl, Lu Zigang felt a smile well up from the bottom of his heart.

Oh right, he still didn't know her name. In his excitement at their rare reunion, he completely forgot to ask her name.

"Zigang, where did you get this jade piece?" The shopkeeper's slightly surprised voice came from outside. Only then did Lu Zigang realize that he had been thinking about this piece of jade for half a day, and it was already getting dark outside.

As Lu Zigang got up to light the oil lamp on the table, he excitedly recounted their reunion. However, when he finished speaking, he noticed that the boss's expression didn't show surprise, but rather solemnity. A strange unease rose in Lu Zigang's heart. In the flickering lamplight, the boss's appearance was exactly the same as when he took him in ten years ago—still so young.

"You mean, the jade knife is in that girl's hands? Is it a kitchen knife?" The shopkeeper reached out and picked up the piece of jade on the table, examining it thoughtfully.

“Yes,” Lu Zigang suddenly remembered something and his expression changed. “That halberd will inevitably be stained with blood. This…” He still remembered the boss’s instructions when he handed him the halberd: it must not be stained with blood, and it must not kill. No wonder he had always had a lingering unease.

A dagger imbued with bloodlust is a weapon of death, capable of backfiring on its wielder. The boss narrowed his eyes, looking at Lu Zigang's tense expression, and swallowed the words he was about to say. The jade raw material was already gone; even if he sent it back, it would be too late.

In the end, the shop owner simply said to him, "This jade is better suited for carving a longevity lock."

Lu Zigang took a closer look and realized that the jade material was indeed flat and round, making it suitable for carving a small and exquisite longevity lock. He nodded repeatedly.

"Remember not to put your signature on it this time. It's a young lady's stuff, how can you put your name on it?" the boss said as he went inside.

Of course he had to sign his name; how could he not? Thinking that she would wear a longevity lock engraved with his name close to her body, Lu Zigang gripped the jade in his hand, a smile playing on his lips.

Next time we meet, I must ask her what her name is. Although only a woman's given name is known to her parents and husband.

But this time, he'll ask. But why did things turn out this way?

Lu Zigang stared at the tall eaves of the Four Archways, momentarily lost in thought. He had worked tirelessly, carving the longevity lock in the shortest possible time, waiting for her to come to the Silent House, but what he received was news of her death.

Those people said that on that night, the palace maids in Consort Duan's palace plotted a rebellion to assassinate the Emperor. They said the Emperor miraculously survived, and all the palace maids serving in the Qianqing Palace, regardless of their responsibility, were arrested by the Imperial Guards, severely tortured, and ultimately none survived. They said it was a premeditated coup.
Fate changes too quickly, like a large cleaver cleaving a beautiful piece of jade in one stroke, shattering it completely.

He hadn't yet recovered from the joy of their reunion when he was about to face their second separation. This time, it was a separation by death. He didn't know the truth; he only knew that on the execution list posted at the gates of the capital, each name was completely unfamiliar. But the shopkeeper told him that her name was on it.

He held the newly carved longevity lock in his hand, staring at the yellow paper for three days and three nights, but still couldn't connect her with that unfamiliar name.

Ten years of longing, and this is the ending? He truly couldn't believe it. Yet he waited another ten years at the Silent Shop, holding the longevity lock that had already been carved, but she never appeared again. Not even once.

Ten years have passed, and we are separated by life and death; though I try not to think of you, I cannot forget you.
It's strange, really. He and she had only met a few times, and she had long forgotten him. Only he had been clinging to those few memories, unable to forget her. Perhaps, this was fate.

He glanced at his palm again, at the longevity lock he had painstakingly carved with his life's blood and longing, which he ultimately couldn't give away. He thought he had grasped happiness, but in the blink of an eye, he found his palm still empty.

He wondered countless times if his fate and hers would have been different if he hadn't gotten lost that day, hadn't carried the dagger, hadn't met her, and hadn't left beforehand. If they had never met twenty years ago, if he hadn't hidden in the alley to eat, if she hadn't bumped into him, if she hadn't invited him to eat that plate of fried rice, would things have turned out differently today?
What if they met but didn't recognize each other, passing each other like strangers? She would remain a cook, and he would remain a jade carver. But fate is never a multiple-choice question.

The whereabouts of the halberd are unknown. Perhaps it was kept as a murder weapon or discarded as trash.

He returned the knife to his boss the night before he went to prison; he was ultimately unworthy to be the knife's master.

The night before her execution, the owner of the Silent Shop appeared out of nowhere in the heavily guarded death row cell, asking her if she wanted to leave the capital with him. He shook his head, refusing the owner's offer. Ten years earlier, on the day she reunited with him and then parted again, he was practically dead.

He said to the shop owner, "I'm sorry, you said you wanted me to carve a piece of jade for you. It seems I have to break my promise." The shop owner looked at him intently and said calmly, "You already fulfilled your promise."

He watched as his boss's figure gradually disappeared into the darkness, never to be seen again.

He couldn't help but think that he and she were like a pair of scimitars, separated, reunited, and then separated forever again.

Looking at the execution ground visible in the distance, Lu Zigang laughed. An emperor who would order the execution of a craftsman simply for the inscription on a royal teapot—no wonder a palace maid couldn't stand it and tried to assassinate him ten years ago.

Lu Zigang was dragged from the prison cart by the executioner and forced to kneel on the ground. He looked down at his shadow cast by the sunlight and suddenly felt a pang of panic. It wasn't fear of death, but fear that he wouldn't recognize her in his next life. However, his boss had promised him he would find her in every reincarnation and give her a longevity lock. He said that if she had memories in her next life, she could use the lock to identify him.

He was unwilling to let it end like this.

Gripping the longevity lock tightly in his hand, Lu Zigang slowly closed his eyes.

The blade rises, the blade falls. From life to death, it is often just a simple instant.

The soldiers picked up the lustrous longevity lock from the pool of blood, wiped the bloodstains off with their sleeves, and casually tucked it into their pockets.

The crowd gradually dispersed, and a young man embroidered with a crimson dragon walked over and said calmly, "I think you'd better hand over that longevity lock to me."

·five·

Four hundred years later, the underground palace of the Qin Mausoleum.

After a violent earthquake, the underground palace returned to darkness.

Hu Hai stood alone in the darkness for a long, long time, watching his elder brother, now a young man, leave the underground palace with the man who had been opposing him for two thousand years.

He pushed open the revived coffin and stared quietly at the longevity lock broken into two pieces at the bottom of the coffin for a long time, as if he were thinking about something. Finally, he bent down and took the longevity lock in his hand.
A few days later, at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport.

A man in casual clothes rushed out of the airport and jumped into a taxi. "Driver, take me to the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor at Mount Li!"

"Okay! That's quite far. I heard there was an earthquake a few days ago. Are you really going, brother?" the taxi driver asked curiously.

"Yes, it's because of that earthquake that we need to go and survey it. Sigh, there's no other way, it's required for the research!" the man complained, half-jokingly.

"Topic?"

"Yes, I studied archaeology." The man took off his hat, revealing a handsome face. His name was printed on the plane ticket in his hand.

Three simple Chinese characters – Lu Zigang.

(End of this chapter)