The young woman wore a white shirt and green skirt, her crow-black hair cascading to her waist. With bright eyes and red lips, she resembled a begonia flower covered in morning dew, or a beautiful dream caught between sleep and waking.
The young man raised his hand and rubbed his eyes forcefully.
Jiang Si hadn’t expected this turn of events and was momentarily stunned.
“Are you… human or spirit?”
Jiang Si quickly lifted her skirt and ran away.
For someone she’d never see again in her life, she’d be a fool to respond.
In the blink of an eye, the white-shirted, green-skirted young woman vanished into the forest.
The young man instinctively raised his foot to chase after her, but a voice called from behind: “Brother Zhen, where are you running off to?”
Zhen Heng awoke as if from a dream, staring blankly at the space before him.
Had he just hallucinated?
The urging voice sounded again. As Zhen Heng turned to leave, something glinting on the grass caught his eye.
It was a begonia jade hairpin.
He bent down to pick it up, examined it briefly, then tucked it into his robe before striding back.
Deep in the forest, several young men dressed as scholars were either admiring a cluster of orchids or painting.
Seeing Zhen Heng return, one of them joked, “Brother Zhen, that was quite a long bathroom break.”
Ignoring his classmate’s teasing, Zhen Heng hurried to a painting table, laid out paper, and ground ink, and began painting in one fluid motion.
Zhen Heng’s painting skills were somewhat renowned among his classmates. As soon as he finished, a classmate came over to admire it: “Let me see Brother Zhen’s orchid painting.”
Zhen Heng immediately flipped the scroll face-down, saying with a smile, “I’ll paint a new one. This one’s ruined and not fit to be seen.”
Hearing this, the other student gave up.
Zhen Heng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After the ink dried, he put away the painting and quickly painted a new one of orchids in a mountain stream to appease his classmates.
“Brother Zhen, you’re not in top form today. This orchid painting isn’t as lively as Brother Li’s.”
Zhen Heng smiled absent-mindedly: “I could never match Brother Li’s excellent brushwork.”
After appreciating the orchids and finishing their paintings, the group suggested going to the Zhuangyuan Inn for drinks. Zhen Heng excused himself, claiming a headache, and returned to the rear courtyard of the Shuntian Prefecture.
“Heng’er, you’re back so early today?” came a woman’s gentle voice.
“We finished early today. Mother, I’m heading to my study first.”
“Have you eaten?” Madam Zhen asked, but Zhen Heng had already walked away. She shook her head helplessly, “This child, he seems so distracted today. I hope he hasn’t caught a fever.”
Zhen Heng hurried into his study and immediately closed the door. He took out the scroll from his robe.
As the scroll slowly unfurled, a young woman in a white shirt and green skirt appeared before Zhen Heng’s eyes.
The young woman’s slightly widened eyes revealed a hint of surprise, like a small forest spirit startled by an unexpected human intruder.
Zhen Heng closed his eyes briefly, and the snow-skinned, raven-haired young woman seemed to materialize before him.
He took out the begonia jade hairpin from his robe and examined it for a long time. His heart gradually became certain: what he saw in the forest was no dream. Perhaps spirits truly existed in this world.
Thus, Zhen Shicheng was surprised to find that his son had stopped going out recently, spending all day buried in books.
Zhen Shicheng stroked his beard, thinking to himself: It’s still early for the autumn imperial examinations, yet Zhen Heng is already studying so diligently. This isn’t like my son at all.
Curious, Zhen Shicheng visited Zhen Heng’s study, only to find a bookshelf full of supernatural tales.
Zhen Shicheng was furious: “Zhen Heng, what are you reading?”
Zhen Heng sighed inwardly.
His father rarely came to his study. Why today of all days? He should have wrapped the books in plain covers.
Zhen Shicheng pointed at the book in Zhen Heng’s hand: “Is this what you’ve been reading all day?”
This foolish boy could have at least wrapped the books to keep them out of sight! How dare he read them so openly? Does he have no respect for his father?
“Son was just curious about whether ghosts and spirits truly exist in this world.”
“A gentleman does not speak of the supernatural,” Zhen Shicheng admonished.
Zhen Heng lowered his eyes and listened, but his thoughts drifted to the enchanting young woman who had appeared from the sky that day.
Father was speaking from a position of ignorance. How could he not be curious after what he’d witnessed?
Seeing his son’s unrepentant expression, Zhen Shicheng raised his hand and gave him a knock on the head: “Since you’re so idle, accompany your father on an outing.”
“Father—”
“What?” Zhen Shicheng glanced at the books, his threat clear.
Zhen Heng obediently agreed.
It seemed he couldn’t avoid this today. Well, it wouldn’t kill him to go. At worst, if his father tried to arrange a marriage, he’d firmly refuse.
Jiang Ancheng was quite surprised when he received Zhen Shicheng’s visiting card.
The Earl’s manor had no private connection with the newly returned Prefect of Shuntian. Why would Lord Zhen come to visit? Surely it couldn’t be another case involving the Earl’s family?
Despite his surprise, Jiang Ancheng wouldn’t slight Lord Zhen. He quickly received this high-ranking official, now visiting for the second time, in the front courtyard’s reception hall.
Zhen Shicheng’s visit caused a stir throughout the Earl’s manor.
In the Hall of Compassion, Old Madam Feng asked twice: “Are you certain Lord Zhen came to visit the First Master, not the Second Master?”
“Yes, it’s the First Master,” Afu replied again.
Old Madam Feng slowly turned the sandalwood prayer beads on her wrist, pondered for a moment, then instructed Afu: “Go to the front and find out Lord Zhen’s purpose for this visit.”
Afu left to carry out her orders. Old Madam Feng’s gaze slowly moved towards the front courtyard.
She had always felt her eldest son was incompetent. Could he have somehow formed a connection with a third-rank official? Well, better to first investigate the Prefect’s reason for visiting.
Today happened to be an official rest day, so the Second Master of the Jiang family was also at home. Hearing this news, he too was puzzled.
The position of Prefect of Shuntian was no easy task. That Zhen Shicheng could be transferred back to the capital for this role proved he was favored by the Emperor.
When did Elder Brother become acquainted with Zhen Shicheng?
The more the Second Master thought about it, the more displeased he became. He headed towards the front courtyard’s reception hall.
After exchanging pleasantries with Jiang Ancheng, Zhen Shicheng smiled and said, “To be honest, I came today to thank your daughter.”
Jiang Ancheng looked surprised: “What has my daughter done?”
“The case of the Marquis and Marchioness of Yongchang was solved thanks to your daughter’s help.”
At the mention of the Marquis of Yongchang, Jiang Ancheng’s mood dampened. He took a few sips of tea and said, “She’s just a young girl. She doesn’t deserve Lord Zhen’s thanks.”
Zhen Shicheng laughed heartily: “Earl Jiang, you’re mistaken. Your daughter is a remarkable young woman, more than deserving of my gratitude.”
Zhen Heng, dressed as a servant, stood quietly behind Zhen Shicheng with his head lowered, feeling extremely uncomfortable with his father’s arrangement.
It was bad enough that his father had come to thank a young girl, but to drag him along and make him dress as a servant? If he were discovered, it would be utterly humiliating.
Thinking this, Zhen Heng lowered his head even further.
Jiang Ancheng, hearing Zhen Shicheng’s praise and admiration for his daughter, was already elated. He instructed a servant: “Go and ask the Fourth Miss to come here.”
Soon after, a gentle voice came from the doorway: “Father, you called for me?”