Chapter 11 Making a wedding dress, fingertips are chilled to the bone; speechless before the storm. ...

"Ying Bumei, I really don't understand, what do you want from this insincere and evasive behavior?"

Su Jinxiu finally couldn't help but speak, her voice trembling slightly in the night wind.

Ying Bumei paused upon hearing this. His face, which was usually adorned with a charming smile, was now as pale and lifeless as an ancient temple statue, devoid of any vitality.

He was testing the waters, struggling, and even his own lack of awareness of the loosening of his resolve, making it impossible to grasp any semblance of reality.

After a long while, he repeated it in a low voice, as soft as a sigh carried away by the wind.

"What do you want..."

After saying this, he said no more, his attitude inscrutable. He silently walked to the entrance of Zuichunfang, where a gleaming ebony carriage suddenly appeared. The manes of the horses were meticulously combed, and the procession was even more elaborate than that of a county magistrate on an inspection tour.

"For you?"

Ying Bumei leaned against the car door, watching her, toying with the dragon and phoenix pendant in his hand, the jade pendants clinking together to make a crisp sound.

"I'll walk by myself."

If someone were to ride home in such a carriage, the entire embroidered alley would likely come knocking on their door tomorrow to inquire about their whereabouts.

Ying Bumei seemed not to hear him, slowly put away the jade pendant, bent down and climbed into the carriage: "Get in, I'll take you to the alley entrance, I won't go in." He lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a cushion covered with snow-white fox fur, "If you dawdle any longer, your brother will come looking for you with a gun."

After thinking it over and over again, Su Jinxiu finally bent down and climbed into the carriage. Inside, the sandalwood walls were inlaid with silver cloud patterns, the floor was covered with snow-white fox fur, and a blue porcelain vase with red plum blossoms was placed diagonally on a black jade low table. The fragrance of ambergris wafted in the air, making it elegant and luxurious.

The carriage curtain fell, cutting off the outside world and completely severing her last escape route.

Ying Bumei leaned against his fox fur coat as soon as he entered the carriage, closed his eyes to rest, and became silent, a far cry from his usual lively self, as if he were plotting something.

The only scent in the car was the faint aroma of incense; the two remained silent.

Su Jinxiu's gaze swept over the white rabbit porcelain statue hanging on the wall. The porcelain was as white as solidified cream, the rabbit's ears were curled up, and the glaze was so lustrous that it seemed to reflect a person's image, exuding a touch of naive elegance.

Seeing that Ying was still asleep and hadn't moved, she quietly reached out and took it down, her fingertips caressing the delicate porcelain surface, finding it incredibly lovely.

Suddenly, the coachman gave a low shout, and the carriage came to a sudden stop. Su Jinxiu's heart tightened, and she quickly pulled the porcelain statue into her arms to protect it. However, her body involuntarily leaned forward, and her forehead gently bumped against the carved wooden board on the carriage wall, causing her to let out a soft cry of pain.

"You can't even sit still yourself, yet you're protecting this thing first." Ying Bumei's voice suddenly rang out, his eyelashes not even lifting, his tone revealing no emotion.

“If I fall, you’ll make me pay for it, but I don’t have that much money.” Su Jinxiu didn’t understand his implied meaning, and rubbed her temples as she retorted softly.

The coachman's voice came with some hesitation: "Young master, the road ahead is difficult to travel. The Zhang family's men have returned, and their force... is really not something we can afford to offend."

"Keep going."

"If the road is so difficult, why keep going?"

Ying Bumei slowly opened her eyes, her gaze sweeping over her, but she ultimately did not answer.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Su Jinxiu felt uncomfortable being stared at by him and reached out to lift the carriage curtain.

As dusk fell, a grand mansion with vermilion gates came into view. The eaves soared like outstretched wings, and the steps paved with blue bricks rose in layers. Two white marble lions stood proudly in front of the gate, and the two gilded characters "Zhang Mansion" on the plaque gleamed brightly, complementing the large red lanterns hanging on both sides. It was truly magnificent and exuded an air of nobility.

"Wow..." she couldn't help but exclaim softly.

"Put it down!" Ying Bumei suddenly leaned over, pressed down on her hand that was lifting the curtain, and slammed the curtain down.

Su Jinxiu was startled by his sudden anger. The sound of horses' hooves came rapidly outside the carriage, and a clear male voice pierced the night: "Brother Ying's carriage? What a coincidence! It's been a long time. Why are you stopping here?"

In that instant when the curtain was lifted, Su Jinxiu had clearly seen the man riding a tall horse outside the carriage. He wore a deep purple official robe, and beneath his black gauze hat, his eyebrows were like ink paintings, slanting upwards into his temples. However, his eyes were not as gentle as those of ordinary nobles, but rather like cold stars falling into a pool, sharp and piercing.

In terms of appearance, he was undeniably handsome and extraordinary, exuding the composed and authoritative air of a high-ranking official—truly deserving of the title "a man of exceptional talent and bearing." Yet, for some reason, the moment that admiration arose, a sense of trepidation crept into her heart. Even though it was their first meeting, without hearing his words or witnessing his actions, she felt that this man was no ordinary person. This initial fear was strange, yet undeniably real.

Ying Bumei suddenly sighed, her voice filled with helplessness and hidden annoyance.

It was as if her action of lifting the curtain just now had caused some huge mess.

It was just a peek through the carriage curtain, was it really that big of a deal?

Ying Bumei straightened his black satin robe, turned to get off the carriage, but as he reached the door, he turned back and glanced at her again.

His gaze was deep and distant, as if holding a thousand unspoken words, instructions, and worries, shrouded in mist.

"No matter what happens outside, you must stay in the car and not get out even a step."

"Oh," Su Jinxiu responded softly.

Outside the carriage, Zhang Mingxu reined in his horse, the gold fish-shaped pouch at his waist striking the saddle with a dull thud.

"Lord Zhang." Ying Bumei bowed respectfully, his posture stiff as a puppet. He was always fond of cleanliness, but now his brocade robe was splattered with mud by the horse's hooves, yet he remained unfazed.

Zhang Mingxu responded, dismounted, and looked past Ying Bumei, his gaze fixed on the carriage: "Brother Ying, is your late-night visit about the matter we discussed last time?" He spoke with a smile, and took a step toward the carriage, his boots crunching on the broken leaves on the bluestone slab with a sharp, grating sound.

"No." Ying Bumei suddenly raised his head. "I was just seeing an old friend off home. It's not about the past. I'm sorry to have disturbed you, sir."

Zhang Mingxu's face darkened suddenly: "An old friend?" He reached out to lift the carriage curtain. "What kind of old friend is he that Brother Ying would personally escort him?"

“My lord.” Ying Bumei stepped forward, grabbed his wrist, and dug deep marks with her fingertips inside her sleeve, but her voice was forced to be calm. “This woman is of lowly status and may offend your eyes.”

Zhang Mingxu sneered and brushed his hand away.

Inside the carriage, Su Jinxiu was thinking that he really disliked her when the curtain was suddenly flung open, and she was caught off guard and stared at the man in purple robes.

Zhang Mingxu's pupils contracted sharply after he lifted the curtain, and his composed smile froze instantly.

Those eyes, usually so imposing, had completely lost their usual composure, replaced by a stunned look as if they had stumbled upon a rare treasure. Even his fingertips unconsciously paused on the curtain, and he froze on the spot.

The servant behind him gasped sharply, his voice trembling as he whispered, "Sir, this...this girl..."

picture.

They look so alike.

Zhang Mingxu was stunned for about half a cup of tea's time before he came to his senses and asked softly, "What is your name, young lady? Where is your residence located?"

Su Jinxiu was filled with doubts. The imposing aura emanating from him was like a chilling pool, causing her to instinctively turn her pleading gaze to Ying Bumei.

But he turned his head away, refusing to meet her gaze at all.

She was usually eloquent and could respond appropriately, but at this moment she was intimidated by that inexplicable pressure and couldn't utter a single word.

Zhang Mingxu's fingertips were so close they could touch the stray hairs at her temples. Su Jinxiu shrank back in shock. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the guards behind him, who had silently surrounded the carriage like ghosts. Her heart pounded like a drum, and her eardrums buzzed.

If she had known she would get involved in this kind of trouble, she would have rather been beaten to death than ride in Ying Bumei's carriage!

“Brother Ying.” Zhang Mingxu suddenly turned his head. The eyes of the two men, which had just been filled with shock, were now brimming with greed, almost overflowing from their depths. “This girl, could it be that you specially found her for me…”

Although Su Jinxiu couldn't see Ying Bumei's expression clearly, she saw his hand hanging at his side suddenly clench tightly.

The silence lingered for a full three breaths, so long that Su Jinxiu thought he had already acquiesced.

Suddenly, Ying Bumei let out a soft laugh, which was particularly clear in the quiet night. He put away his previous composure and resumed his composed demeanor, with an inscrutable light flashing in his eyes.

“This woman is a daughter of the Su family in Embroidery Lane. Tonight, I am merely escorting her home on my way.” He spoke softly and clearly.

“The Su family of Xiu Lane?” Zhang Mingxu frowned, clearly having never heard of this name before. His gaze returned to Su Jinxiu’s face, scanning her from head to toe like a merchant appraising goods, his satisfaction undisguised, as if he already considered her his possession.

Su Jinxiu felt stiff under that gaze and was feeling embarrassed when she saw Zhang Mingxu raise his hand and lower the carriage curtain. Through the plain curtain, his voice came in, carrying an air of unquestionable authority: "Since you come from the Embroidery Alley, your needlework skills must be exceptional. Miss Su, would you mind taking my next job?"

Inside the carriage, Su Jinxiu clutched the hem of her dress with her fingertips, her voice trembling as she asked, "What kind of work is this?"

"I……"

“My sister is about to get married and needs a phoenix coronet and wedding gown. If you can embroider it within six months, you will be rewarded with one hundred taels of gold. Half of the reward can be paid in advance.”

A hundred taels of gold? Then Achin will have no worries about his future school expenses.

Ying Bumei seemed about to speak, but Zhang Mingxu raised his hand to interrupt him. His gaze was fixed on the carriage curtain, and his tone suddenly became a few degrees deeper.

"Answer or not?"

Su Jinxiu, separated by the curtain, had not seen that his guard's sword was already drawn. Just as she was hesitating, Ying Bumei spoke up for her, saying, "Since Lord Zhang has spoken, how can Miss Su refuse?"

Zhang Mingxu's laughter immediately rang out from outside the curtain: "Brother Ying is indeed sensible."

Before long, a servant approached carrying a vermilion lacquer tray inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The tray was covered with a dark-patterned cloud-patterned silk, so heavy that the rim of the tray was slightly bent, indicating that it contained fifty taels of pure gold.

Ying Bumei took the tray, turned around and boarded the carriage. The golden light that shone through the silk curtains was dazzling in the dark carriage.

On the way back, the weather suddenly changed, the sky seemed to close up, and soon a strong wind whipped up raindrops that lashed against the carriage, making a muffled sound.

A somber, gloomy atmosphere, the night churning like turbulent waves.

Su Jinxiu reached out and lifted a corner of the cloud-patterned silk, revealing a glittering gold ingot that made her heart tremble.

Such easily obtained wealth felt like a mirage, inexplicably reminding her of the ancient saying, "If one's virtue is not commensurate with one's position, one will surely suffer the consequences." Her fingertips touched the coldness of the gold ingot, but she withdrew as if burned.

When she looked up again, she met Ying Bumei's gaze, which was scrutinizing and seemed to contain a prophetic reminder.

"Can this... still be refunded?"

Before Ying Bumei could answer, a familiar voice called out from outside the car, tinged with urgency and panic: "Sister? Are you inside?"

Su Jinxiu suddenly lifted the curtain and looked out, only to see a familiar figure standing at the alley entrance, none other than Wen Shiqin.

He had not brought any rain gear, and the downpour soaked his dark clothes. Raindrops dripped from his hair, rolling down the contours of his rhinoceros-headed, jade-like face. The water stains on his cheeks were mixed with something else, and in the dim light, it was impossible to tell whether they were rain or tears.

Upon seeing this, Su Jinxiu disregarded everything else and reached out to lift the curtain and get out of the carriage, but Ying Bumei grabbed her hand, his fingertips digging into the slender bones of her wrist: "Your gold."

"I don't want it anymore!" Su Jinxiu broke free from his hand, lifted the curtain and rushed into the rain. The rain instantly soaked her clothes and hair, sticking to her cheeks and neck, but she didn't care. She staggered to Wen Shiqin's side, reached out to brush the wet hair from his forehead, and her fingertips touched his cold forehead.

Why aren't you using an umbrella?

Wen Shiqin's eyes reddened: "I'm afraid if I go back to get the umbrella, I'll miss my sister..."

Seeing him like this, Su Jinxiu's heart skipped a beat. Remembering that his left arm was still injured, she quickly grasped his cold hand. The damp coldness from his palm seeped through his fingertips, making her nose sting with tears: "How could I not want you? Come on, let's go home."

The cold, damp rain clung to their clothes and hair, and although their steps were hurried, it added a touch of warmth to their close companionship.

Suddenly, a voice, like a sharp blade tempered with ice, pierced through the dense rain curtain, startling them both.

"Su Jinxiu, your gold is still here."