C13 He Left the Mansion

Young Master Xuanji was a mysterious figure, so much so that even his disciple, Moo Jihe, had never seen his true face. His teaching method was straightforward and somewhat harsh: he would hand Moo Jihe books to study and only offer guidance if Moo had questions the next time they met. However, Moo Jihe wasn't truly interested in learning from him; he was more concerned with the prestige of being known as "Young Master Xuanji's sole disciple."

The books given to Moo Jihe covered a wide range of topics, from esoteric arts and elemental theories to complex calculations and even engineering skills. But Moo Jihe, absorbed in political maneuvering, had no interest in these subjects and never truly engaged with them.

One day, by chance, Lan Qingjia stumbled upon these books in his study and became engrossed in them. When Moo Jihe caught her, she expected to be reprimanded. To her surprise, he didn't scold her but instead encouraged her to study diligently and often asked her to explain what she learned. At the time, Lan Qingjia was deeply moved, feeling a profound intellectual connection with him.

Later, she realized that his encouragement was merely a strategy to handle Young Master Xuanji's questions. Whenever Young Master Xuanji tested Moo Jihe on his knowledge, Moo would use Lan Qingjia's insights as his own to pass the tests. Each time Young Master Xuanji posed a question, Moo Jihe would relay it to Lan Qingjia, relying on her to ponder the answers.

So, in reality, the true disciple of Young Master Xuanji is not so much Moo Jihe as it is Lan Qingjia. The knowledge is etched into her mind as if it were part of her very being, and with just a little thought, it springs forth like a fountain. This, perhaps, is another gift from above for her.

If the mechanisms of the Exquisite Pavilion were crafted by Young Master Xuanji, she might just have a chance to navigate through them. But to ensure everything goes smoothly, she needs to be thoroughly prepared. With this in mind, she decided to step out of the house.

As an unmarried young woman, she needed to seek permission from the matriarch before going out. Mrs. Lau, upon seeing Lan Qingjia, scanned her face with an inscrutable expression before slowly smiling.

"It's rare for you to want to go out for a walk, Qingjia. Go ahead, but be safe and come back early."

Lan Qingjia responded with a gentle smile and gracefully left with Baixiang. Mrs. Lau watched her leave, her eyes clouded with unreadable thoughts. She then turned to her trusted aide, Mummy Jiang. "Find some reliable people to help me with something..."

In the past, Mrs. Lau would never have considered Lan Qingjia a threat, but now she felt that this little upstart was slipping out of her control. She needed to do something to teach her a lesson.

Lan Qingjia boarded the carriage and left the estate. Along the way, the lively sounds of street vendors filled her ears, creating a bustling atmosphere.

She gently lifted the curtain to peek outside, her eyes relaxed and a soft smile on her face. The world was so beautiful, a beauty she never truly appreciated in her past life—what a pity.

Baixiang rarely had the chance to leave the house, and her face was full of excitement. "Miss, where are we going?"

"The Book Loft."

The Book Loft was the largest bookstore in the city. She wanted to find a few books to revisit the knowledge she once studied deeply.

They got off the carriage at the street corner and walked to the Book Loft. The entire building was grand and elegant, exuding a sense of sophistication. Inside, books were everywhere, the scent of ink filled the air, and the whole place had a sacred feel, making everyone instinctively lower their voices, careful not to disturb others.

What set this place apart was that the second and third floors had reading nooks for guests, available for rent or purchase, where one could read quietly. The nooks were cleverly designed with screens for privacy, and the place had an innate purity, so even if men and women sat nearby, it felt perfectly normal and respectful.

Wealthy patrons found reading here to be a refined experience and often visited. Meanwhile, students who couldn't afford to buy books came daily, saving a lot on book expenses.

Lan Qingjia selected her books and, guided by memory, found the storybooks Baixiang loved in her past life.

Baixiang could only recognize a few words, but the illustrations in the book were detailed enough for her to understand. She flipped through it and was genuinely delighted.

Lan Qingjia, familiar with the place, headed upstairs to find a seat, only to discover that it was already full. She continued to the third floor, searching for an empty spot, but still came up empty-handed. Just as she was beginning to worry she might not find a seat at all, Baixiang suddenly whispered excitedly, "Miss, there's an empty spot inside."