Zili pulled A’Luo behind him with one hand. His right hand gave a shake, and a sword seemed to appear out of nowhere, and he clashed with the masked men. A’Luo watched, dazzled. She had practiced karate for many years, but seeing this scene of flashing blades and swords in front of her, she still wasn’t used to it. She only felt that Zili was gripping her tightly; slowly she made out the direction the blades were coming from, and using the leverage of Zili’s grip, she leapt up and kicked over a masked man who was slashing at them with a blade.

Zili glanced at her, and used the opportunity to force the masked men back with several strikes of his sword. He pulled A’Luo and shouted low: “Get on the horse!” He leapt up and mounted, whipping the horse to go. Suddenly he felt a sharp, numbing pain in his thigh, and his whole body toppled over. The horse reared its front hooves, gave a long neigh, and A’Luo fell off the horse along with him. Ignoring the pain from her fall, she went to Zili’s side: “Big Brother, what’s wrong?”

Zili suddenly laughed: “Silly brother, why did you stop riding the horse?” He caught his breath, a layer of blue-green tint already spreading over his face: “There was a poisoned needle stuck in the saddle.”

The masked men were slowly closing in now. One of them laughed: “There was no need for that trick — the few of us could have stopped you easily enough.”

A’Luo stepped in front of Zili, shouting angrily: “You’re this shameless and you still dare to laugh? Hand over the antidote!”

The men, seeing this handsome young master in brocade robes flare up in anger, broke into mocking laughter: “What a pretty young master. This job’s turned out quite well. Step aside, or you’ll get blood splattered on you and it’ll scare you.”

A’Luo turned back to look at Zili — he still wore that smile on his face: “Big Brother, hold on!” She pulled the horse closer and forced Zili up, “Big Brother, I’ll support you, use your strength to get on!”

The masked men laughed even harder: “Little young master, can you really lift him? Do you need Big Brother’s help?”

A’Luo glared at them, then turned back to Zili — his face was covered in that blue-green tint, yet he still wore that half-smiling expression, though his body had gone limp. A’Luo realized he couldn’t mount the horse. She let go of the reins, slapped the horse’s rump to send it running off, hoping some old horse-knows-the-way instinct might bring help. She helped Zili to sit against the wall. One of the masked men laughed: “No one ever comes down this alley. I’ll tell you honestly — today you won’t be able to escape even with wings.”

A’Luo closed her eyes for a moment, then sprang into motion. The masked men froze, unsure what she was doing. A’Luo stretched a few times, stopped, took off her outer robe, and looked at the masked men coldly: “It’s been years since I’ve had a fight. Are you coming one at a time, or all together?”

A burst of laughter followed. One masked man tossed aside his blade and laughed: “Looks like I’m the lucky one — come, let Big Brother have a hug first.” Before he got close, A’Luo’s foot struck squarely at his head; she stepped forward with a lunge and her right arm struck his back — there was a crack of bone, and the masked man collapsed.

Before the others could react, A’Luo had already rushed forward, throwing punches and kicks — all her training from years ago at the gym came flooding back. The masked men were caught off guard; after two more went down, the rest finally swung their blades at A’Luo. By now A’Luo was gasping for breath. Their blades were vicious; she tried her best to shield Zili, but the circle kept tightening. She couldn’t hold out — was this really how she was going to die?

She kept her body as agile as she could, dodging left and right, occasionally throwing a punch or a palm strike, feeling weaker by the moment. Suddenly she heard Zili sigh, and he stood up, pulling her back. From somewhere, arrows came whistling in, and the masked men fell with cries of pain.

Then several people leapt down from atop the wall and knelt on one knee before Zili: “Your subordinate arrives late — Lord, please punish me!”

Zili glanced at him and said: “Get up.”

The men rose and quickly moved the bodies away, cleaning up the bloodstains from the scene with practiced efficiency. In a moment, the alley looked as if nothing had happened. Soon after, an attendant came leading a horse and stood waiting to the side.

A’Luo watched, stunned, her hands still trembling as she caught her breath. Seeing Zili turn back with that same smile, she asked: “Weren’t you poisoned?”

Zili’s eyes held a hint of laughter: “That bit of poison will pass in a moment. Besides, it was them who couldn’t escape, even with wings!”

A’Luo glared at him resentfully: “And you just watched me take on their blades? So disloyal! I don’t recognize you as my Big Brother anymore! Don’t tell anyone we know each other from now on. Treat me like a fool, will you.” She picked up her robe and walked off.

She heard Zili behind her say: “Why didn’t you ride off on the horse?”

A’Luo turned and glared at him: “It’s not that I didn’t want to ride off — I was thrown off!”

Zili smiled: “You could have just walked away. They weren’t after your life!”

A’Luo grew even angrier: “Didn’t you hear them say I was a pretty young master? I had no chance to leave! This is it — let’s never meet again!”

She walked a few steps, and Zili caught up: “Would you like to learn to ride a horse?”

A’Luo ignored him. Zili spoke again: “Would you like to try all the delicacies Fengcheng has to offer?”

A’Luo still ignored him. Zili sighed: “I only wanted to see your skills. When I grabbed your hand, I felt your palm was calloused, and I knew you had martial training. If you’d truly been in danger, I would have stepped in. Even if I hadn’t, my attendants would have. So — tell me, whatever it is, as long as I can do it, I will.”

A’Luo stopped walking: “Really?”

“Really,” Zili said with a smile.

A’Luo asked again: “Are you very rich?”

Zili frowned: “Fairly well-off, I suppose!”

A’Luo laughed: “As long as you have money, that’s fine. Can you find out how much silver it would take to buy Qianfeng Tower?”

Zili laughed: “You want Qianfeng Tower?”

A’Luo shook her head. Zili thought for a moment: “A hundred thousand taels of silver.”

A’Luo asked him: “Then how much silver would it take to buy a house in Fengcheng and live comfortably for a lifetime?”

Zili smiled: “For an ordinary household, fifty to a hundred taels can support a family for a year.”

“So the few dishes we just ate cost as much as an ordinary family’s yearly expenses?” A’Luo felt the wealth gap here was truly enormous.

Zili was still smiling: “You could buy a servant girl for as little as twenty taels.”

A’Luo said: “I want a thousand taels of silver. Can you give it to me?”

Zili asked her, puzzled: “What do you need a thousand taels for?”

A’Luo said: “As repayment! I saved your life and nearly worked myself to death doing it! Your life is worth at least a thousand taels, isn’t it!”

The attendant nearby snapped angrily: “How dare you insult my lord!”

Zili glanced at him, and the attendant fell silent, though his face was still full of anger. A’Luo said, feigning surprise: “Are you saying I’m undervaluing your lord? Then two thousand taels it is.”

The attendant didn’t dare say another word, his face flushed red. Zili laughed: “Even if you wanted Qianfeng Tower, that would be fine too.”

A’Luo smiled: “I’m not greedy. Two thousand taels, and we’re even — no debts owed on either side from here on.”

Zili looked at her deeply: “Still upset that I had backup prepared but didn’t step in?”

A’Luo smiled: “I have martial skill, and we just met, so it’s natural for you to be cautious. But still — I don’t like it.”

Zili extended his hand, and the attendant produced a stack of banknotes; without even looking, he handed them to A’Luo. A’Luo took them, counted out two thousand taels, and returned the rest to him before turning to leave.

Just as she was about to leave the alley, she heard hoofbeats — an arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her onto a horse. Zili said: “I’ll take you home. Where do you live?”

A’Luo was utterly exhausted; a free ride sounded fine to her. She said: “Just take me to where you found me.”

Zili said nothing more, and rode the horse back out through the East Gate the way they’d come, circling round to the riverside.

A’Luo got off the horse and started to leave, but Zili stopped her, untying a jade pendant from the silk cord at his waist and handing it to her: “If you ever need anything, go to Xingyuan Pawnshop in the city and find the shopkeeper. Just say Young Master Zili gave this to you.”

A’Luo thought for a moment, then accepted it.

Zili rode off swiftly. A’Luo walked to the outer wall of the Chancellor’s residence, checked that no one was around, took out her flute, and blew a signal. A short while later, Xiao Yu appeared atop the wall.

Back at home, A’Luo was completely drained and just wanted a hot bath. Seventh Madam saw how exhausted she was and didn’t ask too many questions.

A’Luo soaked in the hot water, feeling utterly comfortable, and kept thinking about what kind of person Young Master Zili really was — watching how he commanded his people, he clearly had some talent for management. She was still irritated that she’d run off and gotten into a fight for nothing, made to play the fool — if she hadn’t known karate, Zili wouldn’t have just sat there waiting to be killed either. How was it that everyone here was as cunning as a monkey spirit — not a single simple person among them.

What made her happy was that she’d earned another two thousand taels, and gotten a jade pendant that granted wishes on top of it. That was a treasure — who knew, one day she might need Zili’s help.

After bathing, A’Luo gave the banknotes to Seventh Madam to keep safe. Seventh Madam asked in surprise: “How did you go out for one day and come back with so much silver? Third child, you didn’t knock out that robber again, did you?”

A’Luo beamed: “I did knock out a few today. I saved someone, and he thanked me for it. It’s completely clean money, I promise. Mother, could we buy a residence outside the mansion? I think we have enough silver now.”

Seventh Madam said: “That’s not a bad idea — if we ever have to leave the Chancellor’s residence someday, we’d have somewhere to go. Oh, and I heard the Empress has issued an edict summoning the wives and young ladies of the inner household to admire the moon on the fifteenth. I suppose it’s to take a look at Qinglei and decide on the candidate for Crown Princess.”

Just as she said this, someone came from the main house with a message, saying the Master wanted Seventh Madam and the Third Young Lady to come over.