Heaven was kind to her. When Mo Zi, led by Xiao Yi, landed outside the west wall and looked at the scenery before her, this was what she thought.

She’d said she couldn’t recite many ancient poems in their entirety, but here was one—from the Northern and Southern Dynasties no less, one people of this era also knew well. Though not quite fitting the scene, it matched the atmosphere.

“Heaven vast and boundless, wilderness stretching far, wind blows grass low revealing cattle and sheep.”

Where had they ended up? To evoke such vastness.

Not really anywhere—just over a tall west wall, the neighboring household.

“Don’t know how long it’s been uninhabited—even rabbits have made nests here.” Mo Zi marveled in wonder.

Wild grass green and rustling in the wind, a white rabbit hopping and jumping. The enormous courtyard had only one row of wing rooms at the very front and one at the very back. Over a hundred acres of land, yet the middle was completely empty, containing only flowers, grass, trees, and an artificial lake. The bridge over the lake was broken, the stone platforms of the flower beds had collapsed, the artificial mountain still maintained its original appearance—in a field of overgrown flowers, grass, and trees, it appeared quite desolate and strange.

Such a large place uninhabited—wasn’t this very kind to Mo Zi, who always needed to secretly slip out? Or perhaps, kind to Qiu Sanniang. Because Qiu Sanniang’s luck was much better than hers.

Xiao Yi wrinkled her nose, indicating she wasn’t sure but had a good impression. “This place is better than the Prince’s mansion.”

Mo Zi naturally knew it was because of the many trees. Smiling, she said, “No wonder I’ve barely seen you these past two days—you’ve been coming here to play?”

Xiao Yi nodded in admission. “But I’ve also been handling business for Miss. The front row of rooms can be used to change into men’s clothing. The north corner gate opens to a very secluded small alley with solid walls on both sides—no one will be walking around. I think from now on, it’s best to send and receive messages from there.”

“Tell Miss yourself.” Mo Zi walked toward the north. “Xiao Yi, remember to listen for cat calls—I don’t want to use the Prince’s mansion main gate.” Now she didn’t have Tian Da’s help. If she just walked through the Prince’s mansion main gate like this, it would cause a sensation.

Not hearing Xiao Yi answer her, she looked back to see two rabbits happily hopping along close to the ground from the grass.

Just how many rabbits were in this place? Mo Zi smiled helplessly. After walking quickly for quite a while, she changed clothes and applied subtle makeup in a room near the north corner gate. Carefully pushing the door open a crack and confirming no one was around, only then did she slip out.

Not far from the alley, she saw a blue cloth-canopied carriage stopped at the end of the quiet little street. The driver wore a wide-brimmed bamboo hat deliberately concealing his face. She thought it was Cen Erlang, but that physique filled out an old gray shirt so solidly—the person looked much taller than Cen Erlang.

Just as she was wondering if Cen Erlang had sent someone to pick her up, the deep blue curtain suddenly lifted, revealing Cen Er’s long, thin, smiling face.

“Brother Mo, two months without meeting—have you been well?”

These ancient people—going out meant years and months passing.

Seeing a familiar face, the stuffiness Mo Zi felt in the Prince’s mansion completely dissipated. Clasping her hands in salute, she smiled from the heart. “Second Young Master Cen, congratulations, congratulations!”

Cen Er didn’t understand. Questions in his eyes. “Brother Mo, congratulations for what?”

“The employer asked me to tell you—from today on, you are the chief steward of the capital’s Wangqiu Tower. How can I not congratulate you?” Mo Zi’s outing today had been arranged early on.

Cen Er was overjoyed. He made a deep bow toward Mo Zi. “Many thanks, Brother Mo.”

Mo Zi chuckled and moved aside to avoid the grand courtesy. “You should thank the employer—why thank me?”

“When I see the employer, I’ll thank her then. However, if not for Brother Mo leading me these past six months to establish merit for the employer, how could the chief steward position fall to me? Moreover, Brother Mo must have put in good words for me too, right?” Second Young Master Cen knew the score and spoke euphemistically. “Actually, if not for Brother Mo needing to stay by the employer’s side, this position should be Brother Mo’s.”

“Enough, stop sweet-talking me.” Mo Zi actually had little interest in managing Wangqiu Tower. Coming from a military background, she always felt the food and entertainment industry “violated discipline.” “As for me, whether or not I’m chief steward doesn’t matter—as long as someone treats me to meals.”

Cen Er hastily said, “That’s natural. I’ll treat you today. Once Wangqiu Tower opens, Brother Mo can come eat daily—who would dare ask you for silver?”

“Come on, making a big deal out of nothing. Careful the employer finds out and says we two are abusing our authority for personal gain.” How could Mo Zi not know Qiu Sanniang? Other things were negotiable, but on the matter of silver, she was absolutely a genuine miser.

Cen Er wrinkled his face and shook his head. “Our employer is fine about other things, it’s just…” Loves money! Thinking of this, he asked, “Will the employer raise my wages?”

Seeing Cen Er’s face full of doubt that Qiu Sanniang wouldn’t raise his wages, Mo Zi was greatly amused. “Cen Er, I thought your loyalty to the employer had nothing to do with how much you’re paid.”

Cen Er blushed a bit. “Naturally it doesn’t, but a raise is still better than no raise.”

Mo Zi patted Cen Er’s shoulder. “If she doesn’t raise your wages and you take the same as ordinary stewards, would you still have the motivation to make money for others? Don’t worry—you now take the same share as your father, settled monthly, with year-end profit sharing based on performance. When the tower opens, the employer will give you a contract with everything written clearly.”

Hearing this, Cen Er perked up again. “I take the same as my father?” And profit sharing too?

The Cen family were smart and straightforward, which was why they could be Qiu Sanniang’s good helpers.

“Right, the same amount. With so much silver, you Cen Er can marry a beautiful wife, have a whole brood of children, and live a happy life.” Mo Zi joked and lifted her blue robe to step onto the carriage. “If we don’t leave now, it’ll be dark. It’s not easy for me to come out—let’s make the most of the time to handle…”

Suddenly a jade-green sword leaped into view.

Mo Zi slowly withdrew her left foot that had been stepping onto the carriage shaft, staring at the driver wearing the bamboo hat. Two leisurely words: “Zan—Jin.”

The driver immediately removed his hat. Handsome eyebrows, handsome eyes, very upright features, wheat-colored skin. When he smiled, his teeth were white and eyes bright. If not Zan Jin, who else? No wonder from afar he looked tall and sturdy.

“Cen Er, you lost—one tael of silver.” Zan Jin extended his large palm toward Cen Er.

Mo Zi felt the palm wind hit her face, but heard Zan Jin asking Cen Er for silver. She asked, “Zan Jin, just two months without seeing you and you’ve learned to gamble?” Back then, his father had written the deed of servitude—he wouldn’t leave without seeing the sword, insisted on martial virtue, and wouldn’t do anything wicked. This big simple fellow, now that he’d left the mountain, had also become worldly.

Though Zan Jin appeared simple and foolish with his uprightness, he actually wasn’t stupid at all. Hearing Mo Zi’s tone was off, he quickly withdrew his hand. “Cen Er taught me—I never gambled before.”

Cen Er said sheepishly, “Brother Mo, we were just playing around—it doesn’t count as real gambling.”

Mo Zi asked, “What was the bet?”

“Whether you could recognize me.” Zan Jin was genuinely happy to see Mo Zi. “Cen Er, I don’t want the silver. I told you—the master I’m willing to serve must be the smartest. If they weren’t smarter than me, I wouldn’t be willing to follow. My martial arts are so high—I can’t let just anyone order me around, otherwise I’d lose face for my grandfather, lose face for my father, lose face for everyone in the Zan family…”

A man who looked made of steel, yet so long-winded. Mo Zi’s head ached. She waved her hand. “Zan Jin, I already told you—you can’t follow me.”

“Brother Mo, I know you have a master. But no one says people with masters can’t be masters themselves. Take Old Master Cen—his master is also your master, but don’t dozens of people under him also follow him for meals? You handle business for your master, I handle business for you—each handling their own business. Besides, I’ve already solved the eating problem. Cen Er hired me as a guard, including three meals. When you don’t need me, I work for Cen Er—there’s food to eat and money to earn, so you don’t need to give me silver. And I can sleep at Cen Er’s place, so even lodging is solved.” Zan Jin had refuted all the reasons Mo Zi used last time to refuse being his master.

Indeed, he refuted each point very well. Was there such a person? Not requiring her to provide room and board, not requiring her to give silver, willing to do life-risking work for her. Since becoming a maid, her status and position had been at the very bottom of society. Yet now Zan Jin was willing to pledge loyalty to such a person—Mo Zi couldn’t harden her heart to refuse again. Actually, she very much hoped she could have Qiu Sanniang’s luck in winning people’s hearts. She also knew that if she wanted independence, she must have people like Zan Jin who were loyal only to her.

At this moment, Cen Er suddenly said something that made Mo Zi realize her luck wasn’t too bad after all.

Cen Er said, “If Brother Mo wishes to display great talent, Zan Jin is indispensable.”

Seeing Mo Zi’s surprise, Cen Er continued, “Brother Mo need not be astonished. Though my Cen family serves the employer, we also have feelings and righteousness. Brother Mo has helped my father and me tremendously. Now that Cen Er can finally handle things independently, I naturally must repay Brother Mo’s kindness. From now on, whatever Brother Mo doesn’t want the employer to know, Cen Er will definitely keep secret for Brother Mo. Brother Mo can absolutely trust Cen Er’s words.”

The saying goes well—good people have good rewards. There’s also a saying—giving always yields returns. Mo Zi’s wholehearted help to the Cen father and son finally had its reward today.

“Second Young Master Cen, since you’re sincere, I won’t speak falsely either. I won’t do anything harmful to the employer, but to be a slave and servant my entire life is also not my wish. If I have your assistance, it’s like wings growing from my sides—I’m endlessly grateful.” Mo Zi clasped her fists in a brief, firm shake.

Second Young Master Cen just smiled and nodded. “Someday, if Brother Mo has good prospects, don’t forget to give Cen Er a hand. Cen Er also has no intention of being a servant his entire life.” The Cen family’s second generation wasn’t as conservative as his father—he had small ambitions.

In Mo Zi’s view, this wasn’t a bad thing.

The two spoke right in front of Zan Jin. Zan Jin had shallow experience after all, and hadn’t studied books. Hearing them go back and forth speaking in refined language with cunning expressions, he didn’t understand the meaning. He only cared whether Mo Zi would accept him or not. He opened his mouth to ask, but then Mo Zi spoke to him.

“Zan Jin.” Opening her mouth, her tone was different from usual.

Zan Jin was accustomed to Mo Zi’s gentle way of speaking. Seeing the aura around her body change sternly, her voice carrying irresistible pride, his own tall stature seemed to shrink by half. He involuntarily lowered his head and respectfully answered, “Yes.”

“I am female.” Mo Zi said.

Zan Jin immediately raised his head, his eyes widening like bronze bells.

“Previously I had no intention of deep friendship with you, so I concealed it. Now that you insist on following me, I’m telling you. If you want to change your mind, there’s still time. If you don’t want to follow me, you can still work for Wangqiu Tower. I believe Cen Er will happily provide room and board and pay wages separately.” With the other party trusting enough to pledge their life, Mo Zi couldn’t conceal the fact of being female.

“You’re female?” Zan Jin still stared at her, not caring about others.

“I am female.” Mo Zi didn’t dodge or evade, calmly meeting Zan Jin’s eyes directly.

“Mother of father!” Zan Jin looked up to the sky. After cursing this phrase, he looked straight at Mo Zi again and spoke two words—

“I’ll follow.”