Chapter 6: Lu Lan Changes Her Fate

Emerging from the Nine-Curve Pavilion, Lu Lan walked with hurried steps, followed closely by his attendant, Xian Yu, who trotted along behind him.

"Master, where are we heading today?"

Lu Lan marched forward, his gaze deep and contemplative, as if he had made a firm resolution. "To the treasury."

Going to the treasury for silver again? Xian Yu’s face fell. From this morning until now, his young master had been acting like a decent human being—discussing marriage plans, then returning home to join his parents for breakfast. For a fleeting moment, he had actually thought the young master had turned over a new leaf. It appeared, however, that his own brain had simply malfunctioned. Squandering wealth was, after all, the only proper business for his young master.

Observing Xian Yu’s dejected expression, Lu Lan gave a sly grin. "Xian Yu, did you step out with your left foot first or your right foot just now?"

Xian Yu blinked, stunned for a moment. "Master, are you short on silver again? I only have a few copper coins left to my name."

"Speak the truth, am I that kind of person?" Lu Lan draped an arm around his neck. "Xian Yu, if you can scrape together ten thousand taels of silver within ten days, I’ll find you a wife of noble status."

Ten thousand taels? Xian Yu stumbled, nearly collapsing in shock. "You are truly generous, offering to find me a wife of such standing! Why don't you just sell me instead? Sell me a hundred times over, and perhaps you might cobble together ten thousand taels."

"Then give me a clever idea to raise money."

Xian Yu tried to persuade him earnestly, "Master, why don't you break your habit of lavish spending and try starting a business?"

This time, it was Lu Lan’s turn to nearly trip. Start a business! The boy actually dared to suggest such a thing! "What is this, are you eager to see me die sooner?"

***

As the master and servant made their way toward the treasury, several ideas for quick money-making flashed through Lu Lan’s mind. A mere ten thousand taels was a trifle. There were three ways to solve his immediate crisis, but starting a business was certainly not among them. A spendthrift must never start a business; that was simply out of the question in this lifetime.

First, he could borrow from the circle of profligate young heirs in the capital. But Lu Lan quickly dismissed this. His usual companions were a pack of fair-weather friends who prioritized profit above all else; not one of them possessed the integrity to share their wealth. They were eager enough when it came to wining, dining, and harassing innocent women, but the moment disaster struck and real silver was needed, they would vanish in a heartbeat. Why did Lu Lan know them so well? Because he had once been just like them—more heartless and ungrateful than anyone. They could weep on each other’s shoulders after a night of drinking, pouring out their sorrows, because they were "sworn brothers through thick and thin," but if you asked to borrow money—ha, not a chance.

Second, he could engage in usury. It was a high-profit business—lending nine and collecting thirteen—a quick way to line one’s pockets in half a month. In his previous life, he had earned plenty of such immoral wealth and witnessed far too many tragedies. Those in need of money were usually gamblers, merchants who had suffered losses, or poor families desperate for life-saving funds. Most could not repay on time and were forced to suffer broken limbs or sell their children. In this life, Lu Lan wanted a happy future for Gu Xingwan, so he could no longer commit such sins.

With both quick paths dismissed, only one remained: selling off the family inheritance. The Duke of Yu held a first-rank title, a position of great wealth and prestige. The rewards bestowed upon his ancestors were immense, and with the military honors earned by his three older brothers, their holdings—thousands of acres of fertile land, manors, forests, restaurants, shops, and docks—were countless. Selling just a fraction would be enough to tide him over.

"I will save Xingwan from that pit of fire first; everything else can be dealt with later."

***

Inside the carriage, Jian Aozhu’s thoughts stirred. "System, check the prestige points for Lu Lan and Gu Xingwan."

[Understood, Host. Gu Xingwan’s prestige points remain unchanged at 9,900, but Lu Lan’s prestige points have suddenly risen to 7,580.]

Jian Aozhu’s face turned deathly pale. How could this be? It was one thing for Gu Xingwan’s points not to drop, but why had Lu Lan’s risen? Previously, to ruin Gu Xingwan, she had specifically scouted the area around the Baoyue Tower, vetting a whole crowd of well-known, useless playboys in the capital. At that time, Lu Lan’s prestige points had been a mere 161, the absolute lowest among the dissolute heirs, lower even than students from ordinary families. It was proof that his life was destined for catastrophe—why else would she have chosen him?

"Didn't you say that prestige points are the upper limit of a person's fortune, and they only drop, never rise? Why did his suddenly skyrocket?" Jian Aozhu was so furious she could kill.

The system’s harmless, mechanical voice echoed in her mind: [I am not sure of the specifics, but Lu Lan must have encountered a major turning point that changed his destiny.]

Changed his destiny? How could a person just accidentally change their fate? Jian Aozhu bit her lip. Could it be that their night together had backfired, turning a worthless piece of trash into a treasure? Now that Lu Lan was protecting Gu Xingwan everywhere, it was as if she had gained a powerful adversary.

[What is more troublesome is that Lu Lan has triggered a butterfly effect.]

"Butterfly effect? What is that?" Jian Aozhu did not understand many of the system’s new terms. She had long suspected that this system was an alien entity.