Night thoughts were ethereal, the round moon hung in the sky.

The sounds of silk music, gently carried by the wind, only fragments of melody could be heard.

By the north gate, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old young servant, head drooping, a lamp placed beside him, seemed utterly bored, shifting from left foot to right foot, swaying back and forth. Suddenly hearing movement outside the gate, his eyes immediately became alert.

First came voices, then the sound of horse hooves. The gate was pushed slightly, the force very light, therefore revealing only a small gap that blinked shut again.

The young servant lifted his lamp and walked over quickly. Just as the gate opened a second time, he wedged his foot into the gap and kicked the gate open.

A hand, probably just about to push the door panel when the gate inexplicably opened, paused there, somewhat at a loss.

When the lamplight illuminated the person outside the gate, the young servant saw a woman dressed as a maid. Unable to hide the surprised expression on her face, she had probably been startled.

Mo Zi had indeed received a fright. Yuan Cheng had said he would leave the gate unlocked, not that he would wait at it. She had therefore been especially careful, first testing with a push to confirm the gate was open before feeling reassured enough to enter. Who would have expected that not only would the gate suddenly open by itself, but there was actually someone behind it?

Under the lamplight, she saw he wasn’t very old—he should be a young servant. Good thing it wasn’t Yuan Cheng himself. She felt that with her intelligence, she might very possibly be unable to match him, so without psychological preparation, conversing with Yuan Cheng was obviously even more difficult than dealing with Young Master Jin. Her brain had already been overused today and needed rest.

“Are you Miss Mo Zi?” The young servant was very clever.

“I am.” He even knew her name—no need to think about who sent him. It was also fortunate that she always acted carefully. When Yuan Cheng suddenly appeared today, though she had changed into men’s clothing, she hadn’t made up her appearance as Brother Mo. She had left bare-faced, only applying the black face makeup once outside. When returning, she had also washed her face clean.

Of course, this caused Cen Er, who had never seen her fair and clean appearance, to be quite amazed. And Lady Qin, who had only been in the capital a few days managing Ge Qiu, had even wanted her to appear on stage on opening day. However, after hearing her sing an off-key Jiangnan ditty, she reluctantly gave up. Being naturally tone-deaf wasn’t her fault.

Zan Jin had stared at her “true form” for a while and said that she still looked more like a man with the black face, neither surprised nor dazed. This child who had come down from the mountain either had no concept of external beauty and ugliness, or didn’t care about it. Actually, that was good. Looking at people’s hearts this way, one could actually see more clearly.

“Ming Nian, following our lord’s orders, has been waiting here for quite some time.” The young servant slightly raised the lamp in his hand. “Our lord said the garden is desolate and feared the young lady would have difficulty walking at night, so he specially sent Ming Nian to light the way for you. Please follow closely, young lady.”

Our lord? Wasn’t it Yuan Cheng? Mo Zi was a bit confused and asked, “Your lord is—”

“The young lady doesn’t recognize our lord?” Ming Nian found this strange. “Our lord’s surname is Yuan. He is precisely the master of this garden.”

What had happened? What had she missed? Shi Lei kept saying treason and betrayal of the nation—capital crimes; Zhong An sent the person into the palace, which surely meant the imperial prison. The Emperor’s general amnesty was only half a month ago, that person had moved into this abandoned residence at most just a few days ago, yet he was already “our lord”? How did he become one?

Fine, she was humble, she would ask for instruction. “What official position does your lord hold?”

“Our lord is newly appointed as Imperial Academy Erudite, Junior Sixth Rank official. Starting tomorrow he will enter the Imperial Academy to teach.” Ming Nian spoke as he walked.

Imperial Academy Erudite was equivalent to a university professor. Though it was Sixth Rank, it was an official position that didn’t require attending court and had no real power. But at least it was a minor official position, with much higher status than a commoner.

Remarkable, Yuan Cheng. The embarrassed and dejected state of needing someone to support him even to walk, the tragic pitifulness of lying down afraid he wouldn’t wake up—all had become passing clouds before his eyes.

Faintly hearing the liveliness from the garden on the east wing side—music and laughter—Mo Zi lowered her eyes and laughed softly. Indeed, Yuan Cheng was the same as Xiao Erlang—both were from that side.

Which side?

The nobility side.

The high official side.

“Your lord is entertaining guests today?” Had this new political elite brought over Nande’s style of nightly music and song?

“Exactly. Our lord invited colleagues from the Imperial Academy to drink. Tonight they won’t return unless drunk.” Though Ming Nian wasn’t very old, he spoke quite maturely. Social engagements in officialdom where one didn’t return unless drunk were common occurrences—he seemed to understand this too.

“Little Brother Ming Nian, I see from how you speak that you’ve studied, haven’t you?” Very scholarly, different from ordinary servants.

“Young lady, you are our lord’s friend, while I am merely a servant. Such a form of address is improper—just call me Ming Nian.” First correcting the error in etiquette, Ming Nian said, “My father does odd jobs at the Imperial Academy. When I was small I followed along and studied some books. Our lord took pity on me for losing an arm and was willing to take me on as a book boy.”

Only then did Mo Zi notice that Ming Nian’s left sleeve was empty. No wonder he had used his foot to kick the door earlier. She wanted to open her mouth to comfort him, but felt that would be worse instead. While hesitating, she heard Ming Nian say something that left her dumbstruck.

“Our lord asked me to tell the young lady that in his life he has never owed anyone a debt of gratitude, therefore he doesn’t know whether he should repay it, or how to repay it. Rather than thinking it through himself, it’s better to let that person decide. Our lord said he gives that person one month’s time. If that person wants him to repay this debt of gratitude, please within this month personally acknowledge to him the matters of the past. Otherwise, after one month, even if that person changes their mind and comes to acknowledge him, he will consider the debt of gratitude already cleared, and from then on they will owe each other nothing.”

Yuan Cheng and Jin Yin—one plain, one fancy—both had one problem: they didn’t like to properly say people’s names, just “that person, that person.”

Though she had guessed Yuan Cheng might have recognized her, guessing was a mental activity. When her ears truly heard this fact, she was still shocked. But after the shock, she thought about how back then he had also very quickly seen through her female identity. He seemed to have said his nose was very keen? Her clothing always used Bai He’s specially made dried flowers to add a slight fragrance. Perhaps it was because of this?

“I don’t understand your lord’s meaning.” Mo Zi’s skill at playing dumb had reached perfection.

“Our lord said that I, Ming Nian, don’t understand, but the young lady does.” This book boy who had lost his left arm could nevertheless convey Yuan Cheng’s words crystal clear—evidently his mind was clever.

Yuan Cheng seemed to have anticipated she wouldn’t acknowledge him, so he gave her a one-month deadline. If she wanted him to repay the favor, then within this month she must personally acknowledge to him that Brother Mo and Mo Zi were the same person. If she didn’t acknowledge it, after one month, she would no longer have the qualification to demand repayment.

On Young Master Jin’s side, she had already refused to cooperate with him. If she had still coveted the Water-Purifying Pearl, from the very beginning she wouldn’t have returned it to Yuan Cheng. And since she had returned it, then let Yuan Cheng decide whether to sell or keep it.

Under the high wall, the green grass rustled in the wind.

Before Mo Zi learned to meow like a cat, she said, “Ming Nian, could you please help me convey a message to your lord?”

“Please speak, young lady.” Ming Nian said respectfully, his left sleeve fluttering in the wind.

“That person assisted a gentleman whose proud spirit would rather break than bend, not an Imperial Academy Erudite who doesn’t return unless drunk. Now people have their own aspirations—better not to mention the past.” Since Yuan Cheng had recognized her, naturally there was no need to play dumb to the end. The Yuan Cheng she had known back then was not the Yuan Cheng of this moment.

“Yes, Ming Nian will remember carefully.” The young servant bowed respectfully.

“Aren’t you leaving?” Mo Zi thought to herself, we’ve already arrived safely, haven’t we?

“Our lord instructed that I must watch the young lady safely… cross over the wall.” This phrase was so strange.

Safely cross over the wall. Mo Zi immediately meowed twice.