Today was Shunzi’s turn to keep watch at night. As soon as he heard Zong Jincheng’s loud cries, he rushed in from outside and asked, “Young Master, what’s the matter?”
The little troublemaker, in a panic, jumped out of bed barefoot and exclaimed, “My jade pendant! The one Grandmother gave me! Go get it back for me, quickly!”
Shunzi’s mind instantly went blank.
The jade pendant from the Old Madam?
Wasn’t that pawned off ages ago by Young Master Jincheng to settle a debt?
Shunzi hesitantly replied, “That was five months ago. The shop owner might have already sold it…”
Zong Jincheng pushed him toward the door, urging, “Go and ask! Maybe it’s still there!”
Shunzi, still being pushed, said with difficulty, “But even if the pendant is still there, we don’t have the money to redeem it. You spent at least fifty taels entertaining your friends all day. And we still owe Madam Xu Wan two hundred and ninety-nine taels. Our pockets are emptier than our faces…”
Zong Jincheng’s face turned red and then purple.
The thought of being penniless and having sold the pendant, which angered his grandmother, filled him with both guilt and fear. He pushed Shunzi aside and ran out of the room.
Shunzi, noticing the young master was still barefoot, was so startled that he nearly lost his wits. He grabbed Zong Jincheng’s shoes and socks from beside the bed and hurried after him.
Pan Hongzhi, now fully awake, thought, “What’s going on now?”
He quickly dressed and followed.
The quiet Marquis Manor suddenly came alive as lights were lit one by one. The servants on night watch were startled by the sight of the young master running frantically under the moonlight, his face and body drenched in sweat.
When Zong Jincheng reached Zong Wenxiu’s Courtyard and saw his brother still studying by the lamp, he widened his eyes and rushed to the window, knocking urgently. “Brother, are you still awake? I need your help.”
“Jincheng?” Zong Wenxiu, who had been studying late into the night, quickly got up from his desk and went to open the door. Zhao Yin, who had been helping Zong Wenxiu organize his notes, also put down his book.
As the door opened, the little troublemaker, his face glistening with sweat, asked anxiously, “Brother, can you lend me fifty taels? I’ll pay you back as soon as I settle my debt with Xu Wan. I promise I won’t default.”
Shunzi finally caught up, panting, “Young Master, your shoes, put them on.”
Zong Wenxiu noticed his brother had rushed over barefoot and his expression immediately changed. He pulled Zong Jincheng to sit on the bed while Shunzi helped the young master put on his shoes.
Zong Jincheng looked at him pleadingly, “Brother, please help me.”
Zong Wenxiu nodded, “Alright, I’ll help you. But first, tell me what’s going on.”
Zong Jincheng’s face lit up with relief, and he explained the situation, expressing his fear of angering their grandmother. Zong Wenxiu finally relaxed.
He had been terrified when his brother came running in the middle of the night, thinking it was a life-or-death emergency. But pawning a jade pendant worth thousands of taels for just fifty taels was indeed a big deal. He was surprised it had taken his brother so long to realize it.
Zong Wenxiu went to fetch the money and soon returned with fifty taels, handing them over. “Take it. You don’t have to pay me back.”
Zong Jincheng grinned, “Thank you, Brother! I knew you’d help me. Don’t worry, I’ll pay you back as soon as I can!”
The little rascal sat on the edge of the bed, swinging his legs, looking as happy as a child with candy.
Zong Wenxiu smiled helplessly, “Alright, you’ve got the money. Now go back to bed. The shops are closed now. Have Shunzi take you to redeem the pendant tomorrow.”
“Okay!” Zong Jincheng nodded enthusiastically, clutching the money as he left. Before going, he noticed the inkstone and the still-wet ink on the paper on his brother’s desk.
“Brother, are you still working on your exam papers?” Zong Jincheng asked.
Zong Wenxiu nodded, “Just finishing up. I’ll go to bed after this.”
Zong Jincheng blinked, “Alright, then get some rest soon.”
“You too, go back to sleep.”
Pan Hongzhi, who had just caught up, saw Zong Jincheng returning with a hefty amount of silver. It seemed the bond between these two cousins was quite strong. The little troublemaker had managed to get a good sum of money in just one trip.
Zong Jincheng, seeing Pan Hongzhi, glanced down at the silver in his arms and asked, “My brother will definitely get into the Child Prodigy Class, right?”
Studying so late into the night, his efforts surely wouldn’t be in vain.
Pan Hongzhi replied in a similar tone, “Of course, Wenxiu is very capable.”
Zong Jincheng frowned, “Then why is he pushing himself so hard? He’s staying up too late.”
Pan Hongzhi explained, “Wenxiu might lack confidence. People like him won’t relax until they’re absolutely certain of success.”
Zong Jincheng pouted, “Then I’ll share some of my confidence with him. Otherwise, he’ll exhaust himself.”
Pan Hongzhi’s mouth twitched. He thought to himself that Zong Jincheng’s overconfidence was better kept to himself. He didn’t want to deal with two arrogant troublemakers every day.
Finally, when Zong Jincheng had settled down, Xu Wan, who had been standing at the courtyard entrance in her robe, turned back into the courtyard. She yawned and said, “That little rascal really knows how to wear people out. Thank goodness Pan Hongzhi is young and energetic.”
Cui Zhi chuckled, “Actually, Zhao Yin has been staying up late too. He’s been studying with Young Master Wenxiu until midnight these past few days, never slacking off.”
Xu Wan nodded, “The children will have a three-day break soon. Let the tutors go home and rest properly.”
As Xu Wan returned to her room, she pondered whether to return the jade pendant to Zong Jincheng.
The reason the pendant had ended up in Steward Liu’s hands was because the steward was clever. Zong Jincheng’s mistakes were his own, and he needed to face the consequences.
Although he had grown a lot over the past five months, the pendant couldn’t be returned to him.
“Call Steward Liu here first thing tomorrow. I have something to discuss with him.” Newest update provided by NoveIꜰire.net
Following Xu Wan’s instructions, Steward Liu went to the shop owner and arranged for him to claim the pendant had been sold, making it impossible for Zong Jincheng to redeem it.
Zong Jincheng’s efforts were in vain. He didn’t get the pendant back, and the money remained unspent. Furious, he paced around the courtyard, muttering, “How infuriating! What do they mean by ‘the deal is final’? No receipt, no proof? If I want the pendant, I have to go to the pawnshop and pay the full price? They’re taking advantage of my naivety back then!”
Zong Jincheng stomped around the courtyard, shouting, “Buyan! Buyan! Come with me! Let’s go smash that black-hearted shop owner’s store!”
Buyan, reluctant, thought to himself, “No, I won’t go. Don’t drag me into this!”