色就是空2

The next day, Ye Zhen took Dai Mei to accompany her in finding Mister Shan.

When Pei Shi told her about Mister Shan’s residence, Ye Zhen knew where it was as soon as she heard it. In Liuqing Lane in Dongcheng, the houses, although not significant, stood in peaceful grounds, away from the bustle of the city. Places like this were likely the dwelling of the teacher could be located.

In her previous life, Ye Zhen used to visit him here. Mister Shan’s courtyard had a vine and a pomegranate tree, carefully taken care by his servants. The grapes were fat and sweet, which was her favorite.

Mister Shan already knew Ye Zhen would come today so he had a table set up in the bamboo pavilion in his courtyard early in the morning,

Yesterday it snowed heavily, and the weather was still a bit cold today. Therefore, Ye Zhen came wearing a fox fur cloak in defense of the nipping cold, making her look like a fox spirit that has decided to bless the place with her presence.

“Sir.” Ye Zhen gave Mister Shan a salute and looked at him with bright eyes.

At the sight of her, Mister Shan was a bit distracted. He almost thought it was the original Ye Zhen who came to him just now! In front of him, Lu Yaoyao has truly become more like his former student.

The same agitating feeling struck him, despite knowing the facts, he again doubted whether there was any relationship between them.

“Come, sit down and have a cup of hot tea.” He told her with a weak smile, pointing to the vacant seat opposite his.

Willingly, Ye Zhen sat down and, with vigor, informed her former teacher about the purpose of her visit. “Sir, I have come to give you good news!”

Before she knew it, a small smile had started to form at Mister Shan’s mouth. “I heard yesterday that you got four A’s.” He then poured her a cup of tea; his long fingers snatched the small teapot.

“I was just lucky.” She gently shook her head.

At this, Mister Shan looked at her and straightforwardly informed her. “I’ll be your teacher then.”

The tea was suddenly forgotten, as Ye Zhen stared at him in surprise. “Sir, do you mean you will go back to college?”

“Um.” Mister Shan raised one thick eyebrow. “Don’t you want me to?”

Ye Zhen’s face lit up instantly. When Mister Shan left the Women’s College and became her private teacher, many people had begged him to return. Ye Zhen even heard that even the dean of the college came to see him personally.

But back then, the imposing teacher didn’t change his mind despite the dean’s persuasions and pleas. What made him go back to the academy this time?

Mister Shan smiled lightly, it was because of his master’s request, “I was not used to some of the college’s practices, so I left. But now that I have gained some years, I see things differently.”

Differently?

His answers were vague, and Ye Zhen, if given permission, would like to ask him thoroughly. But she knew him well; Mister Shan won’t say anything unwillingly.

She felt a little confused and suspected that what Mister Shan was doing now has a purpose. As for what purpose, Ye Zhen couldn’t tell what it is.

“Why did Mister Shan choose to stay in the medical center?” Ye Zhen asked she remembered that Mister Shan used to teach in the college but not in its affiliated schools like the Medical Center.

“It just happens that I know the curator of the Medical Center.”

Ye Zhen saw that he didn’t want to say much about it, so she stopped asking.

***

After leaving Dongcheng, Ye Zhen didn’t want to go back so soon. She wanted to go to Qingyu Lane to find Hong Ling, but she couldn’t do so in the presence of her maid.

“Third miss, aren’t we going back?” Dai Mei asked her when the carriage seemed to take a longer route.

“Don’t worry; I just want to see the capital for a little longer. It’s not every day that I get to go out like this.”

Looking outside with lonesome eyes, Dai Mei seemed to have something she wanted to say to her mistress but was too overwhelmed with nervousness. She squirmed in her seat and glanced at Ye Zhen’s serene face occasionally.

“What’s the matter?” Ye Zhen noticed her maid’s unusual behavior and asked.

“Third miss...This servant’s younger brother has been ill recently. My mother came to me the other day, but Chen Wei won’t let me go home to visit him.” Dai Mei stammered and looked at Ye Zhen morosely.

Chen Wei was the Old Madam Lu’s personal maid and has been ever since in charge of the family’s servants.

“Where do you live?”

“In Shajing Lane, third miss.”

Shajing Lane? It’s on the North Street of the capital! Ye Zhen visibly frowned as she imagined how far it was from Qingyu lane where her former servant Hong Ling lived!

After a fleeting moment, her eyes widened in pleasant realization. Her shop is located on the same street, and she could go there to have a look!

“Then go, but not for more than an hour.”

Dai Mei nodded and was grateful to Ye Zhen beyond words.

Without further delay, Ye Zhen ordered Quan Fu to take the carriage to the North Street. There, she saw a formidable shop that was hard not to notice. It bore a plaque that reads, “Thousands of Pounds of Gold.”

As an abandoned Wang Fei, Ye Zhen started this shop herself. The previous empress, Empress Qi also had a similar shop in the capital before but it later on sunk and just became part of the capital’s long list of history.

For Ye Zhen, the shop meant more than following the steps of the woman she wished to follow—she also wanted to do something that would prove that she once existed.

“What goods does that shop offer?” Ye Zhen pretended not to know.

“Oh Third miss, almost everything the people needs! That’s the largest and most complete commodity store in the capital, which sells things that are brought back from overseas. It’s an excellent business.”

“I see. Then I must go shopping there. You go home and look for me in the store later.”

Dai Mei couldn’t contain her happiness, her eyes locked with Ye Zhen in doubt. “Third miss, is this really okay?”

“Why not? You are my maid. Naturally I have the final say, not Chen Wei. Go quickly.” Ye Zhen urged her to leave with a soft smile on her face.

“This maidservant truly thanks the third miss.” Dai Mei bowed her head before she hurried down from the carriage. Her home was not far from here. She would visit her brother and say a few words to her mother. One hour was enough.

Left alone to herself, Ye Zhen stared at the shop in front of her. Ironically, this was her first time to come to this shop since she opened this. Usually, she just let others deal with the shop, and the accounts were all looked up by Hong Ling.

There are rows of shelves in the shop where goods were displayed neatly. Around her, people were busy making their purchases. Ye Zhen wore a simple curtain hat over her head to obscure her face. She slowly walked around the shop, and sure enough, she saw many interesting things.

However, none of it was new to her. When these overseas goods were sent to the capital, her assigned shopkeeper used to send one to her first.

“Shopkeeper Sun, a new batch of goods, has arrived today! Have you checked them?”

Just as Ye Zhen was thinking about what to do next, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

It’s Hong Ling!

She looked at Hong Ling standing next to the shopkeeper and sauntered past them.

When Hong Ling felt someone approaching her, she raised her guard and looked back vigilantly at the woman wearing a hat.

Ye Zhen lifted one corner of the curtain hat and nodded slightly to her.

“Miss, did you find something to your liking?” Hong Ling took a deep breath and smiled politely.