Lingxi compensated Liu Donghuai with the last of her silver, mentally cursing him to the high heavens.
Liu Donghuai's previously soured mood inexplicably mended. When he left again, his heart was free of any gloom.
Lingxi was distressed. That money was from her Imperial Sister last time, and now she had none left. She couldn't possibly ask her Imperial Sister for more, could she?
Where could she get some money?
She wandered the streets for a bit, observing. After some consideration, she realized painting was her forte; the calligraphy and paintings sold on the street weren't as good as hers.
Upon returning, she went straight to Liu Donghuai's study, found paper and ink, and began to paint.
She finished three paintings as dusk fell. Lingxi was very satisfied with them. Those amateur artists on the street sold theirs for two hundred wen. Her three paintings should fetch at least one tael of silver, shouldn't they?
Making money wasn't that difficult after all!
Liu Donghuai returned. Lingxi proudly showed him her work.
"They're very well painted," Liu Donghuai offered a grand affirmation. But before Lingxi could feel pleased, he added, "Don't paint anymore in the future."
Lingxi's face stiffened. "What do you mean? Are you going to support me?"
"Ahem..." Liu Donghuai choked.
"You used the premium Xuan paper that I'm reluctant to use myself, and the ink is pine resin ink. Never mind how well you paint, the materials alone cost half a tael of silver. If you sell them, you'd have to price them at least one tael of silver, right?"
Lingxi nodded. This was precisely the price she had in mind.
"Poor people can't afford it, and the rich only recognize famous artists. Those who are neither poor nor rich only care about food and clothing. Occasionally, there might be someone who appreciates refinement, perhaps one such person a month if you're lucky. So, can you truly support yourself?"
Lingxi deflated upon hearing this. "Then what should I do? I've already compensated you with my silver, I have no money!"
"How about this!"
Liu Donghuai thought for a moment and took a book from the bookshelf.
"I'm planning to establish schools in several villages. You can contribute by copying this book a few times. We'll distribute them to the schoolchildren. Oh, you can use ordinary paper for copying, and each copy will earn you twenty wen."
Twenty wen? Ten copies would only be two hundred wen!
It took her days to earn two hundred wen by copying. Was this even human work?
"Don't be dissatisfied. Back in my day, I only got fifteen wen for copying a book. Twenty wen is definitely not shortchanging you."
"Liu Donghuai, we're supposed to be sworn friends who've faced life and death together. Can't you... give me thirty wen?"
People haggle when they buy things. It should be alright for her to try and get a little more, right?
But the moment the words left her mouth, her heart skipped a beat.
Sworn friends who'd faced life and death.
They truly were.
Back then, trapped in the secret chamber, she thought she was going to die.
But Liu Donghuai had cut his wrist and, ignoring her struggles, poured his blood into her mouth. At that moment, a thought flashed through her mind: How could a wife bear to betray a man like this?
"Don't sleep, someone will come to save us..."
He repeated this over and over. When her mind was hazy, he would shake her awake. He disregarded the boundaries between genders, holding her to warm her chilling body.
After that, she became a little afraid to see him.
But whenever they met occasionally, he was still as elegant and courteous as before, greeting her as if that incident had never happened.
The two of them tacitly glossed over that event, never mentioning it again.
"Alright, thirty wen."
Liu Donghuai showed no unusual reaction. He responded calmly and then left the study.
Lingxi, without the joy of successful bargaining, sat in a daze for a while.
Strictly speaking, he had saved her twice. The secret chamber was one time, and the city gate was another.
Others might not know, but she herself did. At that time, for some reason, she truly didn't want to live anymore, her mind filled with the thought of jumping from the city wall.
She seemed to have no secrets in front of him. He had witnessed her in her most desperate state and knew about that hopeless affection.
She felt quite at ease in front of him, which was why she moved into the county office without any reservations.
Lingxi rubbed her face, daring not to think further. She found ordinary paper and ink, began to cut and copy, immersing herself in a state of tranquility.
The window was half-open, there was no breeze, and the halo of the candlelight fell upon her face, like a beautiful painting.
A long time ago, when he was still a youth, he had fantasized about his future wife. She was probably like this.
Quiet and gentle, with a wise heart, or perhaps, he would read, and she would mend clothes, accompanying each other warmly, chatting softly.
Liu Donghuai experienced a moment of daze.
Then, he suddenly composed himself and left quickly.
From then on, Lingxi copied books daily, finding it quite liberating and her state of mind much more open. Upon receiving her first earnings, she immediately went to the market. This was money she had earned herself, and she wanted to buy some small trinkets for her two beloved nephews.
She hadn't felt anything when spending money before, but now she cherished the money she earned herself. After buying two wooden carved horses, she felt reluctant to buy anything for herself.
"Aren't you going to pick any more, miss?" the stall owner asked.
"No more. Ling'er will pay." Lingxi said casually.
"Miss, I am your servant, Chun Tao."
Chun Tao was helpless. She had been called by the wrong name several times already. If she didn't remind her now, she would truly become Ling'er.
Lingxi froze, and suddenly, it was as if all the strength had been drained from her body.
Her Ling'er was gone.
As soon as Liu Donghuai stepped out of the study, he saw Lingxi standing blankly on the street, holding a wooden horse, her expression sorrowful.
She looked as pathetic as a discarded puppy.
Was she thinking of that person again?
Liu Donghuai didn't really want to approach. He felt a bit annoyed.
However, he saw another person approach her.
"Little sister-in-law, what's wrong? Are you in trouble? Do you need help?"
It was Zhou Xingshen, dressed in fine clothes. He looked decent enough, but Liu Donghuai knew he was no good.
Lingxi instantly became a prickly hedgehog. "Don't call me little sister-in-law. Do I look like someone's concubine?"
Even when a beauty changed her expression, she was still a pleasing sight. She certainly had a temper.
Judging by her attire, she was still a young lady, and she was holding a child's toy. Could it be that she was pregnant and unmarried, and Liu Donghuai refused to give her a title?
Zhou Xingshen apologized repeatedly and casually picked out a few hairpins from the stall.
"Please don't be angry, miss. I apologize."
He still had money! Were a few cheap hairpins meant to appease anyone? Lingxi disdainfully accepted the hairpins, and just as she was about to mock him harshly, someone appeared beside her.
The hairpins in her hand were snatched away and thrown back onto the stall.
"She doesn't usually wear these. Brother Zhou, there's no need to spend money."
Liu Donghuai's sudden appearance surprised Lingxi. She hadn't seen much of him for several days, and now she ran into him on the street.
"Haha, Brother Yizhi, don't misunderstand. This young lady seems unhappy. Listen to your brother, no matter how busy you are, don't neglect your lady! Haha!"
Zhou Xingshen patted Liu Donghuai's shoulder and winked at him. "Let's have a drink together another day."
After he left, Liu Donghuai's expression darkened.
"How could you so casually accept things from others?"
"Stay away from him in the future."