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Ruyi Rouge Pavilion
"You've gone around in circles, and you still haven't told me what that outfit has to do with Mu Xi's face?" Xing Ruyi walked over to the fox and tugged at its sleeve. "Could it be that the outfit was also stripped from some female ghost by Mu Xi?"
"Using one of your favorite phrases, your imagination is quite wild!" The fox lightly tapped Xing Ruyi's forehead. "It's not that the outfit is related to Mu Xi, but rather that the outfit shares a similar essence with the Human Skin on Mu Xi's face. That outfit has another name, called Human Skin Brocade."
"Human Skin Brocade?" Xing Ruyi felt a chill run down her spine. "Just the name alone is already unsettling. I'm just curious, since you know this outfit is strange, why would you give it to Hui Niang? Do you have a grudge against Hui Niang and are seeking revenge?"
"If I had a grudge against someone, would I need to give them an outfit as revenge?" The fox replied, then tapped Xing Ruyi's head again. "Your mind seems a bit dull lately; it appears the feng shui of the Yun family residence doesn't suit you. Once the new year passes, we'll set off for Qingqiu. The sooner we get there and marry you off, the sooner I can rest easy. A woman as foolish as you should only be tied to me."
"Tie me up if you want; I wouldn't mind." Xing Ruyi linked her arm with the fox's. "But I still don't understand your earlier statement. Why do you want to give this Human Skin Brocade to Hui Niang?"
"Have you forgotten where this Human Skin Brocade came from?"
"It was purchased at a high price by that lady from the Yun family!"
The fox felt a headache coming on but patiently asked, "And where did Lady Yun buy this Human Skin Brocade?"
"From Yun Village! Don't forget, I told you before that Lady Yun spent a fortune buying it from Hui Niang's husband. Hui Niang's husband must—wait, how could I forget? This outfit originally belonged to Hui Niang's husband. If this outfit truly has something strange about it, it must be connected to Hui Niang's husband, that Yun Sheng. However, grievances have their roots and debts have their owners; even if Hui Niang's husband is at fault, you shouldn't blame it on Hui Niang. Are you like those mortal men who think their wife's burden should also include their husband's mistakes?"
"You've become foolish; it's not just foolishness but increasing foolishness. Why would I harm Hui Niang for no reason? If I'm giving her that Human Skin Brocade, I have my reasons. Rest assured, without your permission, I would never randomly trouble someone."
As soon as the fox finished speaking, they heard Li Mao's voice: "The matter Lord Yin instructed has been taken care of!"
"What about Yin Yuan? Didn't he come back with you?"
"The young master stayed behind to watch the show and sent me back first to report to Lord Yin and the shopkeeper. The good show has already begun; when will Lord Yin bring the shopkeeper over? After all, this performance can't be seen elsewhere."
"It's cold outside; I should let your shopkeeper wear a few more layers. By the way, go run another errand over at the Government Office. These mundane matters still need to be handled by mundane people. Looking at the time, our Lord Chang should have arrived at the Yamen, perhaps discussing the case with the county magistrate right now. Make sure he brings more Yard Officers. If there are any extra Coroners at the Yamen, bring them along too; I'm afraid tonight won't be peaceful."
Li Mao acknowledged and soon after, there was silence outside.
Listening to the conversation between the two, Xing Ruyi became increasingly confused. Seeing Li Mao leave, she anxiously grabbed the fox's arm and asked, "Why is it that I can't understand what you and Li Mao are talking about? It's getting dark soon; why did you let him go to the Government Office and have Brother Chang take the Yard Officer and Coroner with him? Could it be that there's going to be another murder at the Yun Family Gathering tonight?"
"Calm your emotions first," Chang Tai said as he wrapped his arms around Xing Ruyi. "You heard what Li Mao said just now; tonight I want to take you to see a play, and it's going to be a spectacular one."
"It seems like you were busier than I was this afternoon. From Li Mao's tone earlier, he must have been out with Yin Yuan for quite a while. Where did you send them? Is there any danger?"
"Don't worry! There won't be any danger. Right now, I'm only concerned about one thing: your playful son might not be able to hold back and act prematurely. If he does something before your Brother Chang arrives with a group of Yard Officers, he'll just end up cleaning up the courtyard."
"Yin Yuan is not as unreliable as you think! Besides, cleaning the courtyard? Why would my Brother Chang bring people from the Yamen to clean the courtyard?" Xing Ruyi took the cloak that the fox handed her and hugged the warming stove closer. "I thought I had become foolish just now, but I actually think your ability to express things has gotten worse. A matter that could be made clear in one or two sentences, yet you insist on beating around the bush and making it so convoluted."
"You are right about everything; I won't argue with you!" The fox carefully adjusted Xing Ruyi's cloak. "With the New Year approaching, it's getting colder outside. Now that you can't use Ghost Technique, your resistance to this cold will naturally weaken a bit. I've thought it over; once this matter is settled, I'll close down Xing's shop. You just stay here in the Backyard and take care of yourself."
"You're not going to consummate our marriage with me, so what's the point of taking care of myself? I'm not in a hurry to have babies."
Xing Ruyi pouted.
"Who says I'm not going to consummate our marriage?" The fox lowered his head, focusing intently on Xing Ruyi's eyes. "It's just that it's not time yet. Even though I'm anxious, I still have to prioritize your health. Do you think I don't feel uneasy when your Brother Chang is always around you?"
"What are you anxious about?" Xing Ruyi felt her ears heat up slightly. She avoided the fox's gaze and looked down, gently tapping the fox with her toes. "I know my Brother Chang cares for me, but as for you and me, I've already made it clear with him. In this lifetime, I can only see him as my older brother. He understands this too and has long since put away his feelings for me. So why are you feeling anxious for no reason?"
"Fool! As long as you haven't become my Yin Chensi's wife, others will always have an opportunity. Do you really think your Brother Chang has truly let go?"
Xing Ruyi looked into the fox's eyes and fell silent. She knew deep down that what the fox said was true; she also understood that Chang Tai's feelings for her were always more than those of siblings. Most of the time, she was just pretending to be oblivious, fooling herself into believing it was all fine. Because only by deceiving herself could she face Chang Tai without feeling so awkward or guilty.
She had thought about leaving quietly with the fox, at least keeping her distance from Chang Tai, but if she really did that, Brother Chang might blame her again. People are inherently contradictory and selfish; they want to consider everything while having to face facts that they simply cannot manage.
Xing Ruyi was just an ordinary mortal with ordinary desires and greed. She knew that deep down she was also infatuated with Chang Tai's kindness towards her. She lowered her head and clenched her fists tighter, feeling increasingly uncomfortable in her chest.
"Yin Chensi, I'm really not that good, am I? I know I like you; in this lifetime, you're the one I want to marry—even if you're a fox spirit from Qingqiu and I'm just an ordinary person. As long as you're by my side until old age comes, that's enough for me. But... I'm still selfishly wanting to possess you while also holding onto Brother Chang's heart. Am I really bad? Am I really greedy?"
"Silly Fox Demon! The affairs of this world cannot simply go as you wish them to. Feelings are even more so. You're selfish; you want to possess me. And what about me? I'm just as selfish; I want to possess you too. Knowing full well that our ending might be different from others', I still can't help but want to keep you by my side."
"You know, and I know, that the most terrifying thing in this world is not watching someone grow old, but having them watch you grow old. I know very well that being with Chang Tai is better for you than being with me, yet I still can't bear to let go. This is your choice, and it is also my choice. Your Brother Chang feels the same; he has simply made his own choice."
"But it hurts in my heart!"
"I know! Once we are married, he will gradually let you go. After he lets you go, he will be able to look elsewhere and perhaps find his own fate." The fox gently embraced Xing Ruyi: "Right now, what you need to consider is not these matters, but your health. I have already sent the letter. Counting the days, Deer Lady will arrive in two days. With her taking care of you, I will feel much more at ease. When spring arrives and your health improves, it will be time for you to take your medicine."
This was the first time the fox had actively mentioned "medicine" since returning from Qingqiu. Xing Ruyi did not respond or intend to ask further because she believed that since the fox had brought it up, it meant he was fully prepared.
"So where are we going tonight?"
Xing Ruyi wrapped herself in a cloak and climbed into the carriage.
"Weren't you just asking me why I wanted to give the Human Skin brocade robe to Hui Niang? Tonight, I will take you to see why."
"You want to take me to Hui Niang's house?" Xing Ruyi lifted the thick cotton curtain: "If we are going to Hui Niang's home, why do we need Brother Chang to bring along the Yard Officer and the Coroner? Is it possible that Hui Niang, like Lady Yun and Hong Liu, will also mysteriously disappear from her bedroom?"
"No! They have other matters to attend to. However, there are some connections between these two matters, so we might as well handle them together tonight." The fox also entered the carriage and casually pulled Xing Ruyi into his embrace: "If you're tired, just sleep for a while. Otherwise, once we get there, you might find it hard to sleep even if you want to."
Xing Ruyi nestled into the fox's arms and closed her eyes but felt no trace of drowsiness: "What exactly is that Human Skin brocade robe?"
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