Ji Cheng instinctively wanted to dodge, but in an instant changed her mind and deliberately took the hit from a dried date. She had to admit, it stung a bit.
The 4- or 5-year-old boy sitting above her on the wall burst into laughter. “You’re so silly.”
“Who are you? Why are you here alone so late?” Ji Cheng looked up, glaring at the smug child before her.
The little boy’s eyes rolled mischievously as he boasted, “My grandmother is the garden keeper. She told me to sit here and wait for her while she patrols at night.”
Ji Cheng held back her amusement, not exposing the boy’s clever lie. Inner garments made of Songjiang triple-woven cloth, fine fabric worth a hundred taels of silver per bolt – how could a garden keeper’s grandmother afford such luxury?
The Ji family dealt in the textile trade, and Ji Cheng had long since developed a merchant’s keen eye. She recognized the fabric at a glance, otherwise she wouldn’t have stood still to take the date hit earlier.
“Aren’t you afraid of mountain spirits and ghosts all alone?” Ji Cheng asked while surveying her surroundings. She then lifted her skirts, stepped back, and leaped onto a protruding rock about thigh-high to her left. Without hesitation, she used the momentum to twist her body, effortlessly completing the challenging task of perching atop the wall.
Shen Hong stared in amazement at the beautiful older sister before him. This delicate-looking person had just effortlessly jumped onto the wall.
Ji Cheng dusted off her hands, removing the dirt from supporting herself on the wall. Then, mimicking Shen Hong, she swung her legs and said, “I’ve heard that when ghosts walk, their heels never touch the ground. Did you see my heels touch the ground just now?”
Ji Cheng smiled at Shen Hong.
Shen Hong shuddered involuntarily but still tried to maintain his composure as he looked at Ji Cheng.
“Would you like to see my feet?” Ji Cheng lowered her voice, speaking in a distant and ethereal tone to Shen Hong.
Shen Hong felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. This person’s voice sounded like a spirit’s. Looking at her face, he found it indescribably beautiful – just incredibly pretty. And her face was so white! Not the sickly pale of a ghost, but a pleasing white, like the egg whites he had eaten for breakfast.
Such a beautiful person indeed seemed unreal. Her hair was different from the other sisters Shen Hong usually saw. It was a bit messy, not combed, just carelessly tied back with a ribbon, with wisps floating around her ears.
Her clothes were odd too, loose and disheveled.
Ji Cheng had only stepped out to clear her mind, intending to return soon, so she hadn’t bothered to tidy her appearance. She had simply thrown on a robe, loosely tied the sash, with just a chest wrap and loose trousers underneath.
To Shen Hong’s eyes, this beauty as white as the moon looked strange from every angle. Yet for some reason, he didn’t feel particularly afraid. He only remembered how truly beautiful she was.
Children’s memories are usually poor, and they might not recall events from ages 4 or 5 when they grow up. But Ji Cheng’s appearance tonight would, for some reason, stay with Shen Hong for a lifetime. He would remember her slightly open collar, the beautiful bones visible at her neckline, and her uniquely curved, upturned eyelashes.
“Are you a fox spirit?” Shen Hong asked curiously. In the stories, his nanny told him, fox spirits were always the most beautiful creatures.
Ugh, fox spirit wasn’t exactly a flattering term. Ji Cheng naturally didn’t want to leave such an impression on Shen Hong, the future eldest son of the Second Branch. As for how she knew this child was Shen Hong, it wasn’t difficult to deduce. The Second Young Master of the First Branch wasn’t married yet, and the Third Branch had no children. Only the Second Branch’s Shen Hong matched this little boy’s age.
“Foxes are born with a natural musk. Come and smell if I have any fox odor,” Ji Cheng said, pretending to raise her arm.
Shen Hong was quite brave, actually leaning in to sniff. “Fragrant! So fragrant! Then you’re not a fox spirit.”
“Of course not. A few years ago, I even hunted a red fox myself and made a scarf. Its fur was so shiny, smooth, and warm to the touch,” Ji Cheng said.
“Uncle said he’d take me hunting when I grow taller,” Shen Hong couldn’t help but say, seeing Ji Cheng brag about hunting. Then he asked, “So you’re a flower spirit?”
Ji Cheng leaned her face closer to tease Shen Hong, “You’re so clever. Then guess what kind of flower I am?”
Shen Hong thought for a moment, unable to place what flower her scent resembled. But he quickly came up with an answer, “I know, you’re a fruit spirit. You smell so delicious.” Although Shen Hong couldn’t identify Ji Cheng’s fragrance, he kept swallowing, thinking it smelled appetizing, “A bit like peaches.”
Children indeed think of food. Ji Cheng raised both hands, making a claw-like gesture, and deepened her voice, “Since you’ve seen through my true form, don’t blame me for eating you up!”
Shen Hong was startled but didn’t back down. Instead, he bravely said, “My father said righteousness always triumphs over evil. I’m not afraid of you, peach spirit.”
“Your father is quite knowledgeable,” Ji Cheng lowered her hands and resumed her normal tone. “What does he do? He must be a cart driver to be so wise.”
Shen Hong wanted to refute but remembered his lie earlier and held back, only pouting, “That’s not right.”
“Then he must be a gatekeeper?”
“Wrong.”
Ji Cheng guessed several more times, all incorrect. Finally, she laughed, “He can’t possibly be a night soil collector, right?” As she said this, she couldn’t help but giggle, finding it amusing to associate the Shen family’s Eldest Young Master with such a job.
“I’m not playing with you anymore, hmph!” Even though Shen Hong was trying to act maturely, he couldn’t bear Ji Cheng making fun of his father.
“Alright, alright, I won’t tease you anymore. What’s a little child like you doing sitting on the wall so late?” Ji Cheng was genuinely curious.
Shen Hong turned his head forcefully, indicating he didn’t want to talk to Ji Cheng.
“Tell me, won’t you?” Ji Cheng coaxed in a gentle voice.
“I won’t tell you,” Shen Hong’s crisp voice sounded quite haughty.
“If you tell me, I’ll go talk to my apricot sisters and plum blossom little sisters. I’ll ask them not to scare you when you come out to play. How about that?” Ji Cheng said.
Shen Hong thought for a moment before turning his head back. He sighed heavily, looking up at the moon in the sky, “I came to see my mother. She went to heaven, and I thought if I climbed high enough, I might be able to see her palace in the sky.”
Ji Cheng was slightly taken aback, not expecting such thoughts from Shen Hong. He truly seemed like a pitiful little fellow.
Ji Cheng happened to glance down and saw lantern lights flickering in the forest, possibly people searching for Shen Hong. Shen Hong noticed too and was about to run away when Ji Cheng caught his hand and said, “This is hardly a high place. Next time, if there’s a chance, my sister will take you to a truly high place. How about that?”
“Your hand is warm. You’re not a monster,” Shen Hong replied, off-topic.
“What a clever little one,” Ji Cheng ruffled Shen Hong’s hair. “You should hurry back now, or the people looking after you will be punished. They might even be sold off.”
“You know who I am?” Shen Hong’s eyes widened in surprise.
Ji Cheng giggled and tugged at the inner garment of Shen Hong’s robe, “Next time, if you want to deceive someone, don’t wear inner clothes made of triple-woven cloth.” As she spoke, she jumped down from the wall, landing gracefully.
Seeing her about to leave, Shen Hong became anxious, “Sister, what’s your name? Didn’t you say you’d take me to a truly high place? How will I find you?”
“On the fifteenth of the fourth month, when the moon is full, I’ll be able to transform again. If you can sneak past your nanny and the others, we’ll meet here at night,” Ji Cheng said with a smile.
“Alright, it’s a promise,” Shen Hong was now thrilled to have a little secret.
“You should go back now. If you’re discovered, it’ll be harder for you to come out next time,” Ji Cheng said, then walked down the mountain without looking back.
Shen Hong thought, haven’t I already been discovered? But he only realized later that when Lan Xiang, the maid on night duty, found him missing, she didn’t dare raise the alarm. She only searched the garden herself with a lantern.
Shen Hong threatened Lan Xiang, “You mustn’t tell anyone about tonight. If Grandmother finds out you lost me, she’ll surely sell off your entire family.”
Lan Xiang hastily agreed. How could she dare speak up? If anyone found out she had lost this little master, she’d be skinned alive.
Meanwhile, Liu Ye’er, hiding by the wall, saw Ji Cheng walking back and hurried to meet her with a lantern. She knew of Ji Cheng’s stress – after all this time, there was still no progress with her marriage prospects. So she silently led the way without a word.
It wasn’t until the next day that Liu Ye’er couldn’t help but ask Ji Cheng, “Miss, who was that child sitting on the wall last night? How did he disappear so quickly?”
Ji Cheng looked at Liu Ye’er and couldn’t help but laugh, “You didn’t think it was a ghost child, did you?”
“Miss!” It was rare for someone like Liu Ye’er to stamp her foot in frustration.
Ji Cheng laughed even louder, having guessed correctly. When she stopped, she explained, “It was Young Master Hong from the Second Branch.”
“Oh my, how could it be him? So late at night, all alone, sitting so high – weren’t they afraid he’d fall?” Liu Ye’er exclaimed in surprise.
Ji Cheng recalled Young Master Hong’s words and was silent for a moment. “Even children have their worries.”
Ji Cheng’s worries were naturally more numerous. It was only the first day of the fourth month when Fourth Miss Wang’s invitation arrived at the Shen mansion. Shen Cui took the invitation from Ji Lan’s hand and laughed, “Fourth Miss Wang is indeed particular, sending us separate invitations.” The one in her hand was addressed only to Shen Cui.
“Mother, where’s Cousin Cheng’s invitation?” Shen Cui asked, feigning innocence.