Everyone has regrettable past events in their lifetime, and he too had a past he wanted to return to.

Lu Zigang sat at the counter of the Dumb House, borrowing the light from the Changxin Palace Lamp to examine the pair of freshly completed hollow intertwining carved flower bracelets in his hands.

This pair of jade bracelets was made from top-quality Hetian jade seed material. Upon closer inspection, they actually had two layers. The surface of the jade bracelets was carved with extremely delicate knife work, revealing intertwining vines and connected branches, with even the veins on the leaves clearly visible, along with some dewdrops. The second layer was a smooth and rounded bracelet body. The two layers were cleverly connected by the intertwining branches, but when worn on someone’s wrist, one could only see a circle of lifelike intertwining branches wrapped around the hand – it could truly be called a masterpiece that seized the work of heaven. On the inner side of the bracelets was carved the famous Zigang signature.

Gently placing this pair of bracelets on the brocade cloth, Lu Zigang rubbed his slightly aching right wrist.

He had spent almost all his savings, using large quantities of jade materials to practice his jade carving techniques. Finally, after ruining several pieces of jade, he had carved a pair of jade bracelets that he was relatively satisfied with.

Lu Zigang stared at this pair of jade bracelets, as if pondering an undecided question. He leaned back against the chair back, hiding his face in the shadows where the Changxin Palace Lamp couldn’t reach, motionless.

In the Dumb House, only the gilt flying dragon Boshan incense burner quietly inhaled and exhaled the incense smoke, those wisps of smoke silently winding upward through the air.

After sitting silently in the darkness for a long time, Lu Zigang finally picked up his phone and dialed a number. The other party took a long time to answer. Because the Dumb House was really too quiet, when the call connected, the noisy sounds from the other end also echoed in the Dumb House along with the other party’s voice.

“Furnace! What’s up? Isn’t there still two hours before the scheduled time?” The doctor’s voice was as loud as always.

Lu Zigang moved the phone away slightly before saying unnaturally: “Didn’t the compass malfunction last time, causing us to be stranded in the Ming Dynasty for several days before returning? Just to be safe, let’s not use it for now. I need to recalculate the directional positions on the compass.”

“Alright then, remember to call me when it’s ready! I’m stuck here covering the emergency department shift anyway.” The doctor’s response was straightforward. Time-space travel was such a high-end, sophisticated matter that it naturally required absolute certainty before proceeding. Otherwise, if they couldn’t travel back, the doctor didn’t want to leave behind mobile phones, computers, and air conditioning. Besides, except for the initial months of anxiety when the boss suddenly went missing, he had gradually come to terms with it. He had time and could afford to wait. He was even considering taking this year’s annual leave to visit famous mountains and rivers across the country – perhaps he might actually find some clues.

Lu Zigang hung up the phone expressionlessly, exhaled deeply, remained still for several seconds, then began to take action.

He put on a set of Ming Dynasty blue cloth straight-body loose long robes, adjusted his wig in the mirror, and carefully packed the pair of bracelets from the brocade cloth into a brocade box, tucking it into his chest. After making all preparations, he picked up the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass and carefully adjusted the pointers on it.

He had long memorized the calculated angles by heart, having thought about them thousands of times in his mind. There was no way he could make a mistake, but he still held his breath, his palms sweating.

Yes, he had indeed harbored thoughts he shouldn’t have.

The Luoshu Nine Stars Compass had fifty-two layers, with the most numerous layer containing three hundred and eighty-four compartments. If someone didn’t understand it, they would certainly feel dizzy looking at it. Lu Zigang had also found it extremely challenging when he first got his hands on it.

But after several time travels, he had recorded the adjustment angles and corresponding dynasties traveled to, and had already mastered the patterns. So he could actually have taken the doctor back several months ago to find out where the boss had gone.

However, he didn’t want to do that. If the boss returned, he wouldn’t be able to freely use the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass anymore.

Everyone has regrettable past events in their lifetime, and he too had a past he wanted to return to.

Initially, he hadn’t had such thoughts, just holding the idea that trying a few more times would be safer, allowing himself to take the doctor through various dynasties. Because he knew that even if he returned to the past, he couldn’t do anything – he could only be an observer and couldn’t change history. But when the doctor treated that Republic era youth and he discovered no problems afterward, although he still voiced opposition, his inner thoughts gradually began to change.

So when they traveled to General Qi’s military camp last month, Lu Zigang also held this mentality and didn’t forcefully stop the doctor from saving people.

Now that they had returned to the present for a month, nothing unexpected had happened. Perhaps the people they saved were all historically insignificant figures who couldn’t affect the greater course of history at all. Then, could he perhaps hold onto a thread of hope?

Lu Zigang’s hand left the pointer, and the compass emitted a burst of white light. With hope and anxiety, Lu Zigang slowly closed his eyes.

Ming Dynasty, Twenty-first Year of Jiajing, Capital City

Xia Zelan pressed the slightly bulging purse at her waist, and her beautiful face couldn’t help but show some smile. She had originally promised Eunuch Li to prepare a table of Suzhou dishes, but because of her, the jade carving master that the Imperial Jade Workshop wanted to invite had left early, so she didn’t need to cook after all.

Without having to work all afternoon, she could directly receive considerable compensation – anyone would think this was like a pie falling from heaven.

Thinking of that somewhat silly jade carving master, the smile on Xia Zelan’s lips deepened. She could get a master jade carver with excellent memory to carve her jade material for free – her gains today were really substantial!

It was just that she wasn’t quite used to the missing weight of that jade piece around her neck. Xia Zelan carried the small bundle containing the carving knife and walked out from the small courtyard of the Imperial Jade Workshop supervisor. Although no one guided her this time, she still managed to navigate out of the maze-like Imperial Jade Workshop by memory. When passing by the neighboring Imperial Lamp Workshop, she saw craftsmen preparing preliminary work for various turtle mountain lamps, flower lamps, and rolling lamps. Every year, from the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month to the seventeenth day of the first month, the capital city held the Lantern Festival. All the imperial lanterns for the entire palace and capital were the responsibility of the Imperial Lamp Workshop. Although there were still two months before late December, these craftsmen had already begun their busy work.

Just looking at those red lamp papers and silk cloths would make one feel joyful from the bottom of their heart. Xia Zelan indulged herself in stopping to watch for a while before turning to leave with satisfaction.

Since she had nothing to do tonight, she might as well return to the Imperial Food Service for duty. As she walked, Xia Zelan thought that among the various palace courtyards, each had small kitchens, and Imperial Food Service staff would take turns helping in these small kitchens. Tonight she was supposed to be on duty at Consort Duan’s palace. To take Eunuch Li’s job, she had specifically switched shifts with Yumei. Returning at this time, she might not even need to trouble Yumei.

Calculating that the extra silver in her purse could purchase several more winter outfits before winter arrived, Xia Zelan quickened her pace toward the main gate of the Imperial Workshops. She still wore the waist badge of the Imperial Food Service, so the guards at the Imperial Workshops didn’t give her any trouble. Just as Xia Zelan stepped over the threshold of the Imperial Workshops’ main gate, she saw someone standing in the distance across the street. The person was looking at her with bright eyes, making it impossible for her to ignore him even if she wanted to.

It was actually the jade carving master who had just left, and he was obviously waiting for her.

Xia Zelan immediately walked over, curiously looking up and asking: “Master Lu, why are you here? Do you need to go back to find the supervisor?” Xia Zelan felt the other person’s expression was strange. She also noticed that the clothes he wore were not the same ones from before – they were just similar in color, but completely different upon closer inspection. Had he already gone back to change clothes?

“Don’t call me Master Lu, just call me Brother Lu.” The young jade carving master seemed somewhat at a loss, and his handsome face actually showed a slight blush.

Xia Zelan was stunned. When they had been alone together in the kitchen earlier, she hadn’t seen this person so easily embarrassed! But then Xia Zelan realized her thinking was problematic – what did she mean by “alone together”? A man and woman alone together – fortunately no one had seen them, or what would happen to her reputation? She also thought about how she had been the one to actively approach him and speak, and her cheeks immediately flushed as well. In broad daylight, no matter how carefree Xia Zelan usually was, she realized the impropriety.

Who could blame the Imperial Food Service for generally having only women or old uncles? The younger men she could interact with were mostly eunuchs, so she had no concept of the proper distance between men and women.

These two people blushing at each other at the Imperial Workshops’ main gate wasn’t right! Xia Zelan lowered her head, wanting to quickly bow and turn to leave, but the jade carving master spoke first.

“Meeting an old friend in a foreign land is one of life’s four great joys. Would the young lady allow me to invite you for a meal… for that bowl of fried rice from ten years ago?”

Xia Zelan froze, looking at the handsome jade carving master before her. The more she looked, the more familiar he seemed. Remembering the Dumb House he had just mentioned, she let out a soft “Ah!” and said: “You’re that little brother from next door!”

The young jade carving master slowly nodded, his clear gaze containing complex meanings that Xia Zelan couldn’t fathom.

“My goodness, I never expected such a coincidence!” Having confirmed their identities, Xia Zelan couldn’t help but marvel at the wonder of fate. She also understood why this jade carving master had been so excited when he saw the jade piece around her neck and had actively requested to examine it – they were old acquaintances!

With their identities revealed, the previous awkwardness vanished completely. Xia Zelan thought about it and felt this was a rare opportunity. She had already switched shifts with Yumei anyway, so she might as well relax directly – she would cover for Yumei another time anyway.

But when she nodded in agreement, the young jade carving master’s expression suddenly froze.

Seeing him anxiously patting his body, Xia Zelan understood – he must have been in such a hurry changing clothes that he forgot to bring his money pouch.

Xia Zelan was both amused and exasperated. And he wanted to treat others like this? She rolled her eyes, patted the purse at her waist, and said generously: “I’ll treat this time!”

The Imperial Jade Workshop was located at the Imperial Workshops office, one li southwest outside Xihua Gate. This area would become, five hundred years later, a place Lu Zigang often visited during his internship at the National Museum – Beijing’s Xidan. The Imperial Workshops covered an extremely vast area, from the Zhenwu Temple at Beijing’s Second Ring Road outside Fuxingmen to the Front Gate area, all belonging to the Imperial Workshops’ jurisdiction. The east side had the outer treasury and main treasury, the west side had the flower house treasury, the south side had the ice storage, and on the left and right were the four workshops: Wood and Lacquer Workshop, Imperial Jade Workshop, Lamp Workshop, and Buddha Workshop.

Lu Zigang remembered that five hundred years later, the Guandi Temple on Front Gate East Road that he had visited was the site of the Imperial Workshops’ south treasury, and he felt that the changes of time were truly incomprehensible.

What he now saw were the exquisite and magnificent ancient buildings of the Ming Dynasty’s Jiajing era, and those passing by him were people who had long since passed away. Logically, having time-traveled multiple times, he should have no sense of discomfort, but never before had he felt so leisurely walking on ancient streets while being able to match them with the future Beijing in his heart. This feeling was truly beyond words.

At this moment, Lu Zigang even began to think it would be nice if the doctor were here with him – then he’d have someone to share his thoughts with.

Thinking this, Lu Zigang unconsciously focused his gaze on the young woman who deliberately walked half a step behind him.

Yes, a young woman. Although eighteen or nineteen years old could already be a mother in ancient times, to Lu Zigang, she was just a girl who had just graduated high school. In fact, Lu Zigang had no special feelings for this young woman. Although he knew his previous life had loved her with his life, to him, it was just something that happened in a past life – like watching someone else’s story.

But he was also deeply moved by this story. From beginning to end, his previous life never knew the young woman’s name, and the young woman never knew that someone had regarded her as the only light in his life. This directly caused him to repeatedly relive scenes from his previous life in his dreams over the past year, remembering even details clearly. He had even mastered his previous life’s jade carving techniques a few months ago. This was simply… like forcibly enduring another lifetime.

He had specifically consulted a master when he took over the Dumb House. The doctor’s recovery of past-life memories wasn’t like this – why was his case different?

The master stroked his bald head and explained that because the doctor was reincarnated with an incomplete soul, not only could he never live past twelve years old in each reincarnation (even with the protection of the longevity lock, he could only live to twenty-four), but each reincarnation was also plagued by misfortune – either family destruction or short life. In modern terms, he was like a cursed lone star reincarnated. Such circumstances naturally wouldn’t be entangled by past-life resentments. Seeing past-life scenes would be like passing clouds. But Lu Zigang’s remembering of his past life was due to extremely strong past-life resentments that were difficult to dispel.

Lu Zigang deeply agreed, because he had seen many examples: the painter who still came to the Dumb House daily to paint one stroke, the farming otaku who opened a flower shop on the street corner, that university student couple who occasionally sat in the Dumb House… He didn’t know how many others like him remembered their past lives, but he knew that if given the chance to travel back, that painter would definitely abdicate to a suitable person and never again covet that lonely, cold dragon throne.

But his situation was different from others. The young woman behind him was actually one of Fu Su’s reincarnations. Because her soul was incomplete, she would never have reincarnation memories. This meant his previous life could only have this lifetime. If it couldn’t be fulfilled, he could only resent for life. He couldn’t be like the flower shop otaku on the street who found his lover again in this life.

Therefore, when he obtained the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass, an irrepressible thought began growing in his heart.

His previous life was just a jade craftsman, and his beloved was just a small kitchen maid. The survival or death of these two people couldn’t shake the trajectory of history’s wheel at all. Why couldn’t he do something?

In his previous life, he and the young woman had met by chance at the Imperial Jade Workshop. Because of the jade piece at her chest, he recognized her as his childhood sweetheart and requested that jade piece to carve. Perhaps by coincidence, as soon as the jade piece left her body, the young woman encountered the Renyin Palace Coup that very night and was implicated and executed.

What if he returned the longevity lock around his neck to this young woman? Would it protect her through a few peaceful years?

But two identical objects existing in the same time period – while it might not disturb anything momentarily, what if something went wrong over time? Lu Zigang didn’t dare act rashly. He just wanted to prevent the young woman from being involved in that shocking Renyin Palace Coup. If he could also bring her together with his previous self, wouldn’t that dispel some of the resentment that had been entangling his mind?

After all, they were just small historical figures, weren’t they?

So he carved this pair of jade bracelets, wanting to find an opportunity to give them to the young woman.

In ancient times, jade bracelets had the same meaning as rings in modern times. The Han Dynasty had a poem called “Pledge of Love” that said: “How to express our bond through separation? With double jump-off bracelets around the wrist.” The “bond through separation” came from the Book of Songs: “In life and death we are bound together, I pledge this to you. Holding your hand, growing old together with you.” And “jump-off bracelets” was the ancient term for bracelets, given by lovers when pledging their love.

If his previous self saw this craftsmanship and signature, he would know who carved it. Although he might not understand why there would be a second self in this world, his previous self had always minded the Dumb House and had seen all sorts of strange things, so he would naturally guess.

Lu Zigang pressed the brocade box in his chest, feeling quite pleased. He had already prevented the young woman from returning to the palace for duty. Now he just needed to find an opportunity to give her this pair of jade jump-off bracelets and he would be done.