Chapter 14

Chapter 14

It was nearly the hour of the pig when Xia Ximo finally stepped out of the Brocade Garment Manor.

Just as the shop hand had said, a carriage was waiting at the entrance, with Steward Ren Cong standing by in attendance.

“Miss Xia.”

Despite having waited for nearly an hour, Ren Cong showed no sign of resentment. He stepped forward to lift the carriage curtain for her and said respectfully, “I have been ordered by Lord Ren to escort you back to the residence.”

As expected, Xia Ximo merely gave a faint acknowledgment and boarded the carriage without ceremony.

Ren Cong was unfazed by this. Once she was settled, he drove the carriage and turned back toward the residence.

The wheels rumbled, sounding exceptionally clear in the silence of the night.

When they were halfway through the journey, the person sitting inside the carriage suddenly spoke up.

“I am only staying at the residence for a few days. Tell Ren Fengjue that there is no need to pry into what I am doing.”

“Even if I do something, it has nothing to do with him.”

Hearing this, Ren Cong’s hand on the reins couldn’t help but stiffen. For a moment, he didn’t know how to respond.

He had spent the better part of his life in noble households, dealing with the powerful and influential. It had taken years of refinement to gain insight into the world, learning to hear the true intention behind every half-spoken sentence.

Few people were like this-completely transparent, without even a hint of circumlocution.

“Miss Xia… I think you might have misunderstood.”

He intended to explain, but she cut him off directly.

“If it’s a misunderstanding, all the better. No need to explain.”

“…”

Ren Cong was left speechless and could only drive the carriage in silence.

About fifteen minutes later, the two returned to the Ren Residence. Ren Fengjue had not yet retired for the night but was waiting in his study.

Hearing the commotion, the hand holding his brush slowly lowered. Then, he saw a face that was faintly darkened with frustration.

Evidently, Steward Ren had suffered another setback at the hands of that woman.

“Well?”

Ren Fengjue asked, though his brush dipped back into the ink as he looked down at the case files on his desk.

Ren Cong let out a slow, weary sigh and said, “The Clothing Manor said that Miss Xia only went there to have some clothes altered.”

“Just to alter clothes?”

Ren Fengjue raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling somewhat surprised.

Ren Cong nodded, looking rather conflicted. He reported the details of the matter faithfully, including the words Xia Ximo had spoken in the carriage on the way back.

In his view, while the matter sounded suspicious, it seemed reasonable when attributed to that girl with her eccentric behavior.

After listening, Ren Fengjue finally set down his brush. He leaned back and murmured, “She certainly doesn’t beat around the bush.”

Ren Cong couldn’t help but chime in quietly, “I’ve never seen such a cold person. She lacks even a shred of ‘human touch.'”

Lord Ren said nothing, looking toward the East Courtyard Guest Room with a thoughtful expression.

***

The next day brought a rare stretch of beautiful, clear sunlight.

Before the hour of the snake, someone arrived at the gates of the Ren Residence requesting an audience.

But this time, it was an unfamiliar face.

A’chun did not recognize him, but upon hearing the man claim to be from the Brocade Garment Manor, she went to fetch Steward Ren.

Ren Cong had not slept well and his eyes were still bleary. However, when he saw a grey-robed elder sitting in the hall, he was jolted awake by shock.

This person was actually the Old Master of the Brocade Garment Manor-Ren Shuo.

This gave Ren Cong quite a fright.

In terms of seniority, the man before him was a cousin of Marquis Renxuan. Even Ren Fengjue would have to address him respectfully as ‘Elder Uncle.’

Why had he suddenly come to visit?

“Master Ren, why have you come in person?”

Ren Cong hurried forward, though his mind was filled with confusion.

Ren Shuo had retired behind the scenes three years ago, leaving the business of the Clothing Manor entirely to several managers.
Word had it that two years ago, he had followed a Taoist priest into the mountains for spiritual cultivation and rarely descended unless necessary.

Upon seeing Ren Cong, he did not put on airs. Instead, he stood up immediately, his narrow eyes crinkling with a smile that betrayed a sharp, calculating glint.

“It is I who have intruded,” he said.

Ren Cong hurried to pour him some tea, saying, “The Young Marquis entered the palace before dawn. I’m afraid he won’t be back until at least the hour of the sheep.”

“Things are quiet at the manor, and the servants have grown lazy in their habits. I truly apologize for the neglect, Master Ren.”

Ren Shuo chuckled. “It matters not. The Young Marquis is the Emperor’s favorite these days; one cannot expect to see him easily.”

“Actually, I came today because I wish to see a certain distinguished guest staying at your manor.”

These words left Ren Cong even more stunned.

What did he mean?

He hadn’t come for the Young Marquis after all?

Searching his mind, the only person Ren Cong could think of was the young woman staying in the East Courtyard Guest Room.

But why would Ren Shuo want to see her?

He asked tentatively, “By ‘distinguished guest,’ does Master Ren mean… the young lady who went to the Clothing Manor last night to have her clothes altered?”

Ren Shuo nodded. “Indeed. The girl surnamed Xia.”

Ren Cong’s heart sank. He instinctively felt he had been played.

Shopkeeper Liu hadn’t told the truth at all!

That woman’s visit to Brocade Garment Manor definitely wasn’t just for a simple alteration. Otherwise, how could she have stirred up someone like Ren Shuo?

Just how much trouble had she caused?

Ren Shuo picked up his teacup and took a shallow sip. Out of the corner of his eye, he quietly observed the change in Ren Cong’s expression before pressing further: “I wonder… would it be convenient to invite Miss Xia out for a meeting?”

Ren Cong weighed his options quickly. How could he possibly say no?

With a troubled expression, he feigned difficulty. “Master Ren, Miss Xia is a guest of the manor. Since the Young Marquis is away, I wouldn’t dare make such a decision on my own.”

“To be honest with you, this lady has just arrived in the capital and lacks proper etiquette. Her temperament is quite eccentric… I’m not sure if I can even convince her to come.”

Ren Shuo set down his teacup, his face a mask of geniality. “This girl is surnamed Xia; I can roughly guess her identity. Since we are all family, there is no need to be so bound by these formalities.”

“Just go and inform her of my relationship with the Young Marquis, and that will be enough.”

Ren Cong groaned inwardly. Even if this Miss Xia was betrothed to the Young Marquis, if she were to meet anyone, she should meet the Marquis and his wife first. Why would she meet a paternal grand-uncle first?

However, he really couldn’t brush off the elder’s request. He could only offer a word of compliance and head toward the East Courtyard with a heavy heart.

In front of the guest room, Xia Ximo had placed a chair in the middle of the courtyard. She was leaning back with her eyes closed, soaking in the sun.

As he drew closer, he saw her holding a strange lotus lamp in her hand, though he had no idea what it was.

Judging by her leisurely and self-satisfied posture, she clearly didn’t consider herself an outsider at all.

Ren Cong glanced at the “ugly thing” in her hand, cleared his throat behind his palm, and greeted her: “Miss Xia.”

Hearing his voice, Xia Ximo finally lifted her eyelids and gave him a lazy glance.

She put on quite the air and had no intention of standing up.

Ren Cong didn’t take offense and spoke plainly: “A guest has arrived at the manor and wishes to see you. He is currently sitting in the hall. I wonder if you would mind making the trip?”

“Is it someone from Brocade Garment Manor?”

He had only intended to test the waters, but her response caught him off guard again.

“Yes… it is the Old Master of the Clothing Manor.”

“Mhm.”

Xia Ximo gave a faint response, but then she closed her eyes again. “I won’t see him. Not unless he is willing to take the initiative to settle that wrongful case for me.”