Back at Yiling Hall, Susu saw the worried look on his face and tried to comfort him. “I’ll go check in the kitchen and see if I can get a fish for you, young master.”

Liu Xiaolou climbed onto the bed, buried his head in the covers, and mumbled, “I’m counting on you, Susu.”

Leaving the SunRain Hibiscus Garden, Susu made her way to the big kitchen outside Gualu Hall. Smoke and steam filled the room. She found Aunt Song, the woman in charge, and asked, “Aunt Song, do we still have any golden-whiskered dragon carp?”

“Is it for Fifth Lady?” Aunt Song asked.

“It’s for the young master,” replied Susu.

Aunt Song chuckled. “Ah, for the young master. Go tell him the dragon carp are gone for this month. He’ll have to wait until next month.”

“What about crayfish then?” Susu pressed.

“None left either.” 

“But I just saw a string of crayfish caught behind the mountain yesterday. At least a dozen. How could they all be gone already?”

Aunt Song put her hands on her hips. “My good girl, there were only thirteen. Ninth Lady came back today, and the eldest son is hosting a banquet. They’ll need nine of them. As for the rest, unless the master himself gives the word, who would dare touch them? Tell your young master he’ll have to wait until next month.”

Susu forced a bright smile, took Aunt Song’s hand. “Aunt, if I go back empty-handed, young master will blame me.”

Aunt Song gave a cold laugh. “He wouldn’t dare. If he tries to put on airs as the young master and so much as scolds you, Susu, does he still expect to be fed well? Doesn’t he know his own place?”

Susu tugged gently on Aunt Song’s hand, rocking it back and forth. “Aunt, the young master really is a good person. He’d never scold me. Please, just help me this once.”

Aunt Song let out a sigh. “Fine. For your sake, Miss Susu, I’ll spare him a pair of crayfish. But this is the last time.”

After Susu left, Aunt Song looked down at the little gold ingot in her palm. She grinned, slipped it into her bosom, and walked off.

By evening, a pair of crayfish was delivered to Yiling Hall. Susu steamed them herself in a small pot and served them with two big bowls of spirit rice. She also brought in a little pot of sweet osmanthus wine. Liu Xiaolou ate to his heart’s content.

He spent the whole night absorbing the spiritual energy from the crayfish, the spirit rice, and the wine. By morning he was ready, just waiting for Su Jiuniang’s summons. In the meantime, he asked Susu to find out when the monthly spirit stones would be handed out. After a trip to the accounts office, she came back and said, “Three more days. Young master, do you need them urgently? I still have three stones. I could lend them to you for now.”

Liu Xiaolou was completely out of spirit stones. As much as he longed for them, he still had his principles. He politely turned down Susu’s offer. He could wait. Three days wasn’t long. His teacher had gone months without a single spirit stone, and hadn’t he endured just fine?

That evening, Su Jiuniang’s maid, Xiaoqin, arrived. Liu Xiaolou said a quick word to Susu and then followed Xiaoqin toward Yunhai Pavilion. Yunhai Pavilion was Su Jiuniang’s residence, perched on one of the high peaks of Shenwu Mountain. According to Xiaoqin, whenever it rained on the mountain, you could see a sea of clouds from there.

Liu Xiaolou had never been to Yunhai Pavilion before. Climbing the mountain with Xiaoqin, he found the terrain steep and treacherous. Since it was already night, he couldn’t see the scenery, which left him a little regretful.

While they were climbing, Liu Xiaolou seized the chance to ask, “Miss Xiaoqin, there’s something I’m not sure if it’s proper to ask.”

“Please go ahead, Fifth Young Master,” replied Xiaoqin.

“Why is it, that every time I see your lady, Jiuniang, she always makes me turn my back to her?”

Xiaoqin suddenly covered her mouth and laughed. “That… Fifth Young Master, maybe you should ask my lady directly.”

He let out a sigh. “Your lady is formidable. How would I dare? Miss Xiaoqin, do me a favor and tell me. If I’ve done something wrong, I’ll make sure to avoid it next time. If you help me out now, then if you ever need Liu Xiaolou, Liu Xiaolou’d go through fire and water for you.”

Xiaoqin thought for a moment before answering. “This is only my wild guess, not to be taken as the truth. Maybe… maybe it’s because you resemble someone. Well, just a little, from the side.”

The answer caught him completely off guard. He froze, then quickly asked, “Who do I look like?”

“Young Lord Jingzhao,” she said. “The one ranked third among the inner disciples of the Qingyu Sect.”

“So that’s it,” Liu Xiaolou muttered irritably. “All this time I’ve been puzzling over it, and it turns out I just look like someone else? This Jingzhao, what’s so special about him anyway?”

Xiaoqin curled her lips. “Young Lord Jingzhao is extraordinarily gifted. Just last year, when he had only turned twenty-five, he broke through to the Golden Core stage on Wulong Mountain. He’s said to be a once-in-a-century figure in the Qingyu Sect. Everyone says the sect’s rise in the decades ahead will rest entirely on his shoulders. For you, Fifth Young Master, to even resemble him from the side, you should count yourself lucky!”

“Does Jiuniang… have feelings for Young Lord Jingzhao?” he asked.

Xiaoqin pressed her lips together in a smile. “Don’t talk nonsense. And don’t you dare say I told you anything. This was just my own wild guess, nothing reliable. If anyone asks, I’ll deny every word.”

Liu Xiaolou quickly promised, “You can rest easy. My lips are sealed tight. Thank you, Miss Xiaoqin. If you ever need a favor from me, just say the word.”

She shook her head dismissively. “What favor could I possibly need from you?”

Yunhai Pavilion wasn’t large. Built against a sheer cliff, there was little open space, just five rooms front to back.

When they stepped into the courtyard, Su Jiuniang was already waiting. She ordered Xiaoqin, “Change his clothes.”

So once again, Liu Xiaolou was dragged into a side chamber for a thorough overhaul. Not only were his outer robes changed, but even his topknot was undone and retied. By the end, he looked like a completely different person.

Throughout the whole process, Su Jiuniang stood by watching, occasionally giving instructions. When it was finally done, she circled him, scrutinizing him from head to toe, then suddenly sighed. “Let’s go,” she said.

Then she told Xiaoqin, “Tomorrow, go to the SunRain Hibiscus Garden and keep watch. If anyone asks, say he’s here with me. If no one asks, then don’t say a word.”

Liu Xiaolou, still a bit dazed, followed Su Jiuniang out of Yunhai Pavilion. They descended from the other side of the mountain and soon left Shenwu Manor behind.

He reminded her, “Ninth Lady, if we’re going far, shouldn’t we at least tell Fifth Lady?”

“Fifth Sister won’t ask about you,” replied Su Jiuniang. “In fact, no one in the manor is likely to ask where you are. Don’t worry. Even if someone does, didn’t I already send Xiaoqin to keep watch at Hibiscus Garden?”

Liu Xiaolou couldn’t help blurting out, “So we really are going far? Ninth Lady, what exactly is this about? Could you at least tell me, so I can prepare myself?”

“Everything that needs preparing is already prepared. Stop asking questions.”

He didn’t dare press further. He just followed her through the night, noting that they were heading west, though he had no idea to where.

At dawn, they rested briefly in the wilderness. Su Jiuniang brushed her sleeve and produced a jug of clear water and a plate of pastries. Liu Xiaolou looked on enviously. “Ninth Lady, did you take those out of a storage artifact?”

She gave him a glance but didn’t answer, only urged him, “Eat quickly. We’ll continue as soon as you’re done.”

By afternoon, after traveling an estimated 150 li westward, a market town came into view. Su Jiuniang halted and said to him, “We’re here.”

“Where is this?” he asked.

Su Jiuniang kept her eyes on the town. “Xikou,” she replied.

….

TL Note: 'Su Jiuniang' (Ninth Lady of Su) is a title, not a personal name. Her name is Su Wang.