Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Brocade Garment Manor was a long-standing establishment in the capital. In addition to its ready-to-wear shop located in the city’s prime district, the owner had also purchased a residence used for the seamstresses’ work and for hosting distinguished guests.

Out of respect for Ren Fengjue’s influence, Shopkeeper Liu dared not be the least bit negligent. He led Xia Ximo through corridors and courtyards to an elegantly furnished parlor, where he respectfully served hot tea and pastries.

Shopkeeper Liu did not know her true purpose for coming. He vaguely assumed it had something to do with those sets of winter clothes, so he took the initiative to say, “The garments you selected today, Miss, have already been arranged for the seamstresses to work on. At most, they will be delivered to you in three days.”

Seeing that she did not respond, he continued politely, “If there is anything else you need, just send word. There was no need for you to make this trip in person.”

Xia Ximo did not beat around the bush and simply said, “I am here to find a man named Ren Dongxing.”

Seeing her unyielding attitude, Shopkeeper Liu felt a flicker of annoyance, though he didn’t show it in the slightest. He asked, “You are looking for our Young Master?”

“That is truly unfortunate. He hasn’t been to the manor at all today. As for where he went, it isn’t proper for us servants to pry.”

“May I ask if you have some urgent matter?”

At this point, Shopkeeper Liu couldn’t help but feel a secret sense of confusion.

Although Ren Dongxing was the Young Master of the Clothing Manor, he only held the title in name and never bothered with the manor’s affairs. With so many distinguished guests coming and going every day, the various shopkeepers took turns hosting them; he had never seen anyone ask for the Young Master by name.

Then a thought occurred to him. This woman’s identity was special, and her relationship with the Young Marquis was extraordinary. Thinking deeper on the possible reasons made him feel a bit uneasy.

The Young Master had always enjoyed chasing skirts and was known for his philandering ways. Could he have accidentally offended the lady before him?

Otherwise, why would a young woman suddenly come knocking at his door in the middle of the night?

When Xia Ximo remained silent, Shopkeeper Liu grew even more restless. He forced another smile.

“How about this? If you truly have an urgent matter, Miss, I will send someone to the residence right now to inquire.”

As he spoke, he called a servant in to attend to her while he prepared a carriage and immediately left the Clothing Manor.

***

Inside Musi Tower in the west of the city, Ren Dongxing was flushed with wine, flirting with two courtesans in his arms.

Suddenly looking up, he saw Shopkeeper Liu rounding a folding screen.

He originally thought his old father had come to cause trouble again, which dampened his spirits, but as he listened closely, he was taken aback.

“You’re saying a girl came to the Clothing Manor looking for me?”

Ren Dongxing couldn’t hide the curiosity in his eyes and asked, “Well? Is she pretty?”

Shopkeeper Liu was practically breaking into a cold sweat. Gritting his teeth, he said, “My young master, what time do you think it is? We absolutely cannot afford to offend the Young Marquis’s side.”

Hearing this, Ren Dongxing gave a muffled snort, picked up the wine cup on the table, and drained it in one gulp.

In his view, Ren Fengjue had simply been lucky in the womb. They were of the same clan and lineage, so why was it that Ren Fengjue’s father became a founding Marquis? Meanwhile, his own branch remained mere marketplace merchants-powerless, wealthy but unrefined, and forced to live under the shadow of Marquis Ren.

However, despite his inner thoughts, he didn’t dare to be defiant in action.

In less than the time it takes for half a stick of incense to burn, Ren Dongxing arrived back at Brocade Garment Manor.

By then, it was nearly the end of the hour of the Dog, and the night was deep.

Under Shopkeeper Liu’s guidance, Ren Dongxing went straight into the parlor. However, when he entered the room, it was empty.

The tea on the table had long since gone cold.
This left Ren Dongxing completely bewildered, but the attendant pointed toward a side door and said, “That girl didn’t say a word; she just headed straight into the garden.”

To cultivate an air of refined elegance, the manor had specially constructed a garden in the Jiangnan style, filled with various trees and flowers, a carved lotus pond, and even artificial rockeries and pavilions.

Unfortunately, the northern winters were harsh. After the devastation of several snowstorms, the garden had long since been stripped bare, devoid of any signs of life.

Ren Dongxing walked out onto the veranda and scanned his surroundings. Sure enough, he spotted a frail figure standing in the middle of the garden. However, under the faint, watery moonlight, the sight was somewhat eerie.

Unable to suppress his curiosity, he slowly approached along a pebble-paved path. The figure gradually became clearer amidst the moonlight and the reflection of the snow.

Finally, he saw a deathly pale face.

“Ah!”

A scream pierced the silence. Ren Dongxing practically scrambled back, stumbling and crawling all the way into the main hall.

Shopkeeper Liu rushed over at the sound, looking at his young master in shock. “Young Master, what happened to you?”

Ren Dongxing looked dazed as he slumped into a chair. His lips trembled for a long moment before he managed to speak. “I just… I think I saw a ghost.”

“…”

Shopkeeper Liu was speechless. He could only turn to a nearby attendant and order, “Go, go to the kitchen and get a bowl of sobering soup.”

“I’m not drunk!”

Ren Dongxing grabbed his sleeve, his voice shaking. “It was-it was the dead Zhuyan!”

“So, her name was Zhuyan.”

Shopkeeper Liu didn’t answer; instead, a cold, feminine voice responded.

A frail figure stood by the side door. Her face was obscured by the shadows, but her presence was enough to scare the wits out of Ren Dongxing.

“It’s her! She’s back!”

Ren Dongxing lunged forward and pulled Shopkeeper Liu in front of him as a shield.

Shopkeeper Liu’s face flushed with embarrassment and frustration. Suppressing the urge to snap, he said, “Young Master, look closely. This isn’t Zhuyan. This is an honored guest from the Young Marquis’s estate.”

He then turned to explain to Xia Ximo, who was standing outside the door, “Our young master had a few too many drinks at the banquet. Please excuse his behavior, Miss.”

Xia Ximo gave a cold snort and slowly walked inside. Her steps were light and measured; her soft-soled shoes made no sound against the floor.

It was only when Ren Dongxing saw the woman’s shadow cast upon the ground that he began to calm down.

The master had said that ghosts have no shadows.

Besides, Zhuyan’s soul had long since been sealed away. There was no way she could come looking for him.

With that thought, Ren Dongxing finally dared to peek out from behind Shopkeeper Liu.

Under the glow of the indoor candlelight, a woman dressed in coarse hemp clothes stood in the hall. At first glance, she looked destitute, yet she could not hide her innate beauty.

As the saying goes, “A lotus rising from clear water, natural and unadorned.” Her temperament was far superior to the vulgar, powdered women found in brothels and entertainment houses.

In an instant, Ren Dongxing’s eyes lit up. His fear vanished, replaced by a surge of wandering thoughts.

He smoothed his clothes as if nothing had happened and slowly stood up, regaining his usual dandyish poise as he arched an eyebrow.

“I heard Shopkeeper Liu say you were looking for me, Miss. Might I ask what this is about?”

Xia Ximo’s eyes, cold as a frozen pond, stared at him intently. After a moment, she looked down and stroked the black lotus lamp in her hand.

“There is a case of injustice,” she said. “I wanted to find you and ask for the truth face-to-face.”

As soon as those words left her mouth, Ren Dongxing’s heart skipped a beat. The smile that had just begun to form on his lips froze instantly.