Chapter 72: The Beginning (2)

Shen Xiqing’s outing today was rather sudden.

Since arriving at Fenghe Garden, she had never ventured out on her own. Naturally, Qi Ying hadn’t thought to prepare a carriage for her in advance, so transportation became an issue.

Shui Pei had hoped to use this as a reason to dissuade her young mistress from leaving. However, just at this critical moment, Liu Zi, one of the gatekeepers, unexpectedly intervened.

Liu Zi was a clever fellow. Spotting Shen Xiqing near the entrance, he quickly approached with a fawning smile and asked, “Is the young miss in need of a carriage?”

In fact, Liu Zi shared a unique connection with Shen Xiqing. When she first came to Fenghe Garden with Bai Song, she had knelt in the snow outside the gate for half the night. It was Liu Zi who discovered her unconscious in the snowdrift. Later, during the New Year celebrations, he was the one who delivered her message to Master Qi at the main estate, even calling a doctor and changing her heating brazier for her.

He had witnessed firsthand how this young miss rose from the mire to the clouds. Initially, Second Master Qi hadn’t allowed her entry, but now she resided in a private courtyard within Fenghe Garden, clearly favored by him. Who knew what greater fortune might await her in the future?

Liu Zi believed that blessings were shared by those who encountered them. Seeing his chance, he took the initiative to prepare a carriage for Shen Xiqing when he realized she lacked one. Despite Shui Pei’s disapproving gaze, he volunteered to drive the carriage himself.

Shen Xiqing naturally expressed her gratitude, thanking Liu Zi. He scratched his head bashfully, insisting it was nothing, then drove the carriage behind Mr. Ding’s, heading toward Shunnan Street.

Jiankang was a vast city, spanning forty li in each direction, fortified by surrounding towns such as Stone City, Xizhou, Baixia, Dongfu, and Nanlangya. It was renowned as the most prosperous place under heaven. From Xuanyang Gate to Zhujue Gate, government offices and temples dotted the imperial road, while the residences of the nobility clustered along the road and by the Qinhuai River. As for Shunnan Street, where Mr. Ding was taking Shen Xiqing, it lay in the southwestern corner of the city, quite distant from the golden central district.

Though not a neighborhood of the elite, Shunnan Street thrived with activity. Jiankang boasted four major markets, one of which was nearby, along with dozens of smaller ones. Daily crowds of merchants and pedestrians made traffic slow as they entered Shunnan Street.

Sitting in the carriage, Shen Xiqing eagerly pushed open the window to peek outside. She saw shops lining the streets, vendors shouting their wares—a lively scene.

It had been a long time since she’d witnessed such a bustling environment.

Though born in the common folk, she had spent recent months secluded within the Qi family estate, rarely venturing out. She was familiar with places like these, but in her childhood, trips to the market were either to accompany her mother to the pawnshop or to fetch medicine from the apothecary. Now, she was about to own a shop on this vibrant street—an idea she had never dared to imagine.

Zi Jun laughed, teasing, “Look at our young miss’s eyes lighting up! I’ve never met anyone who loves money more than me.”

The maids giggled together, causing Shen Xiqing to blush slightly. Just then, Liu Zi stopped the carriage, announcing their arrival. Shui Pei and the others disembarked first, helping Shen Xiqing down.

Once outside, they indeed spotted a fabric shop. It wasn’t grand, its sign unremarkable, and though aged, it appeared tidy. Shen Xiqing recalled seeing similar shops in her youth; now revisiting one felt surreal.

By the time she alighted, Mr. Ding had already exited his carriage and stood waiting with a lean middle-aged man. Seeing her, he cheerfully introduced the man beside him: “This is Manager Lu, who has operated this fabric shop for over a decade.”

Shen Xiqing greeted the manager politely, and Mr. Ding, in turn, introduced Shen Xiqing to Manager Lu, saying, “This is Miss Fang, whom I mentioned earlier. She will be the new proprietor.”

Manager Lu was short and wore coarse clothing, his cheekbones prominent. Though courteous, his first question startled Shen Xiqing: “How is Second Master Qi?”

She hesitated, finding the inquiry somewhat impertinent. However, she understood that her presence here was largely due to Qi Ying’s influence. Such a question, though forward, was understandable.

After a moment, she replied simply, “He’s well.”

Manager Lu seemed eager to inquire further about Qi Ying, but Mr. Ding discreetly intervened with a smile, saying, “Second Master Qi’s affairs are none of your concern. Focus on serving Miss Fang well, and you’ll be rewarded accordingly.”

Though spoken lightly, the meaning was clear. Manager Lu’s face reddened slightly as he murmured agreement, forcing a smile before inviting Shen Xiqing inside.

Shen Xiqing nodded and, accompanied by Mr. Ding and Manager Lu, entered the shop with her three attendants.

Inside, the shop proved larger than its modest exterior suggested. Various bolts of fabric, differing in pattern and material, were neatly displayed. Shen Xiqing took a quick tour, noting the quality was decent, prices reasonable, though the shop wasn’t crowded—only three or four customers lingered.

Two employees, a young married couple, worked there. According to Manager Lu, they weren’t locals but had been employed for nearly three years. The husband, Song Haotang, handled dyeing, while the wife, Meng Yingying, oversaw weaving with several other girls. Both appeared honest and hardworking, and Shen Xiqing exchanged greetings with them.

Venturing into the back courtyard, Shen Xiqing observed the weavers at work. Large dye vats occupied the open space. Exploring the warehouse, she discovered stacks of dusty inventory, the quantity surprising.

As she inspected the premises, Manager Lu provided an overview of the shop’s operations. His explanation wasn’t detailed, but it was clear the shop barely turned a profit. After deducting wages, rent, material costs, and losses from unsold stock, monthly earnings amounted to less than ten taels. In leaner months, they even incurred losses. Overall, annual profits were negligible.

Returning to the main hall, Manager Lu retrieved a stack of ledgers nearly as tall as Shen Xiqing, explaining, “I received word days ago about the new proprietor taking over. I prepared these detailed accounts for your review. Each transaction is meticulously recorded. You may take them home to examine at your leisure. If you have questions, feel free to summon me.”

Mr. Ding observed silently, refraining from interrupting. Shen Xiqing, overwhelmed by the towering pile of books, could only nod mutely.

Seeing the late hour and that the inspection was complete, Mr. Ding suggested, “Young miss must be tired. Let’s conclude for today. Once you’re familiar with the accounts, we can arrange further discussions.”

Shen Xiqing, her mind buzzing with new information, agreed. Lingering here served no purpose.

Noticing this, Shui Pei dispatched Zi Jun to fetch Liu Zi. Together, they loaded the hefty ledgers onto the carriage. After bidding farewell to Manager Lu and the Song couple, they returned to Fenghe Garden.

Meanwhile, after finishing his duties at the office, Qi Ying received a message from the main estate: Grandmother wished to see him and requested he return for dinner.

Since returning from Nanling, various reasons had kept him from visiting his grandmother. However, following yesterday’s flower-viewing incident, he anticipated her summons. Thus, receiving the message didn’t surprise him. He instructed Qingzhu to inform Shen Xiqing at Fenghe Garden that he wouldn’t be returning for dinner, then headed to the main estate.

Arriving at Rongrui Hall, he found the matriarch seated, nibbling on snacks, her complexion robust—no sign of illness. Upon seeing him, she launched into a tirade against Sixth Princess Xiao Ziyu, accusing her of arrogance and shamelessness, her voice full of vigor.

Qi Ying listened silently, offering no comment. When she paused, exhausted from her rant, he handed her a cup of tea, gently advising, “Grandmother, please calm down. Take care of your health.”

“How can I calm down?” the matriarch snapped, slamming the table. “What kind of family is the Fu household? What kind of background does Rong’er have? How dare she strike without hesitation? Isn’t this behavior akin to a vulgar harridan? If she marries into our family, there will be no peace!”

Having vented thoroughly, she turned to her grandson, irritated by his silence. “And what about that Fang girl? Why is she staying at your residence? Didn’t I already send her away? Has she returned to pester you?”

Qi Ying remained silent for a moment, unsurprised that someone had reported this matter to his grandmother. He preferred she remain unaware of Shen Xiqing’s situation, but now that she knew, he didn’t find it particularly troublesome. Calmly, he nodded and replied, “She is at my residence. I brought her there.”

Seeing her grandson respond so straightforwardly, without a trace of guilt or evasion, momentarily stunned the matriarch. After a pause, she exclaimed twice, “What a calamity!” Then loudly declared, “You foolish child! That girl harbors ill intentions toward you. How can you keep her by your side?”

Qi Ying frowned at her words. “Grandmother worries too much. Wenwen is still just a child.”

The matriarch snorted derisively. “A child? She’s twelve years old! That night she slept wrapped in your clothes—her intentions couldn’t be clearer. Who could fail to notice?”

His expression froze.

He had promised Shen Xiqing not to inquire about the punishment she endured under his grandmother’s hands. True to his word, he hadn’t asked anyone, remaining ignorant of the details. Now, hearing his grandmother reveal this, he was taken aback.

His clothes?

What clothes? Did she still have the garment he left her in the forest outside the city on the day they first met?

...She had kept it.

Even as his grandmother sat before him, fiercely interrogating him, Qi Ying’s mind wandered. Imagining the young girl sleeping wrapped in his coat stirred something strange within him—a feeling he couldn’t quite grasp.

Uncertainty.

For Qi Ying, this was an entirely unfamiliar sensation.

He had known Shen Xiqing harbored some attachment to him. After all, her family had undergone a sudden upheaval, and he was now the person closest to her. Children often grew dependent, especially when treated kindly. He assumed she viewed him as a father figure or elder brother, which explained her affectionate behavior. Yet, he hadn’t expected...

Qi Ying had always been exceptional, admired by countless noblewomen since childhood. He was accustomed to such admiration, often indifferent to it. But now, realizing Shen Xiqing’s feelings, he felt a distinct pang of something unusual—not inappropriate desire, but rather a fleeting scratch from a kitten’s paw, leaving an indescribable impression.

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Author’s Note: He knows now.