Chapter 9 Intimacy “Being the favored concubine of the Shen heir surpasses a fifth-rank…”

Chapter 9: Closeness – To be an esteemed concubine to the heir of the Shen family in Wangjing is better than being the legitimate wife of a fifth-rank official.

Brocade Tower was no ordinary embroidery workshop; it shared intricate ties with the imperial family. Beyond imperial tributes and palace-produced textiles, a small portion of the luxurious silks, brocades, and gauzes used by the palace nobility originated from Brocade Tower.

Otherwise, Aunt Ming wouldn't have been able to enter the palace years ago to weave and embroider for the Grand Empress Dowager and empress. Nor would the beautiful embroiderers of Brocade Tower have had the opportunity to marry into prestigious families.

Indeed, to "marry up." For some, Brocade Tower was a springboard. Several embroiderers had married into high society and were now mistresses of their households—how could others not envy them? Ren Hanzhen harbored such ambitions herself.

With her skill and beauty, she certainly felt entitled to such aspirations. She didn't believe herself inferior to Yue Rongrong. Seeing Yue Rongrong command all attention before Liang Yuanbian yesterday had left her feeling resentful and discontent. But now, standing before the Marquis of Wujing’s mansion, all her grievances vanished. No matter how noble Liang Yuanbian’s status, he couldn’t compare to Shen Jichen. She had, after all, triumphed over Yue Rongrong.

Moments later, she straightened her back, calm and composed, and knocked on the western side gate of the marquis’s residence—as if knocking on the door to her future noble life.

The maidservant who answered frowned at her. Ren Hanzhen smiled, presented Brocade Tower’s identification token, and stated her purpose. Only then did the maidservant, surprised, invite her in.

Walking through the magnificent garden, her mind was filled with images of Marquis Shen’s imposing stature and unparalleled handsomeness. These past few days, whenever Yue Rongrong visited, she had been distracted, fearing Marquis Shen might cast more than a fleeting glance at Yue Rongrong. Now, the heavy burden on her heart finally lifted.

Truthfully, she dared not harbor improper thoughts. If the marquis took a liking to her, even becoming his esteemed concubine would be a blessing. To be an esteemed concubine to the heir of the Shen family in Wangjing was better than being the legitimate wife of a fifth-rank official.

As these thoughts crossed her mind, she was led to a courtyard. The young maidservant guiding her simply told her to enter alone.

She smiled, expressed her thanks, adjusted her appearance, and stepped inside. Passing through the courtyard and ascending the steps, she hadn't even entered the room when a sharp voice echoed from within.

"Miss Yue certainly puts on airs now."

Ren Hanzhen paused, recognizing the voice as Jin Tangsong’s, and the tone clearly conveyed Jin Tangsong’s displeasure. Her smile deepened as she hurried in, curtsying respectfully. "Miss Jin, the manager heard that Rong Rong offended you and specifically sent me to oversee the brocade work and embroidery for you."

Jin Tangsong looked at her, taken aback for a long moment, before saying, "So it’s you. Your manager does have good judgment." She spoke as if deep in thought.

After a while, she added, "Very well, you may proceed. I'm curious to see what happens if we change embroiderers..."

What would happen if they changed embroiderers? Ren Hanzhen, observing Jin Tangsong’s thoughtful expression, grew puzzled. Who? What would happen?

Jin Tangsong left, leaving Ren Hanzhen alone in the embroidery room with a maidservant waiting nearby. Ren Hanzhen was surprised and couldn’t help asking the maidservant, "Aren’t there any other embroiderers?"

Usually, the embroidery for a young lady’s wedding in a wealthy family was intricate and voluminous, far too much for one embroiderer to handle alone, especially for the Shen family of Wangjing.

The maidservant nodded. "It was the same when Embroidery Lady Yue was here."

Ren Hanzhen glanced at the seemingly endless quantities of brocade and gauze nearby, hesitated, and asked, "Might I ask when the young lady’s wedding is? I’m afraid I might not finish in time and delay such an important event."

The maidservant replied, "The sixth day of the fourth month."

Ren Hanzhen was shocked. Logically, for the Shen family’s wedding—especially marrying the Grand Princess’s most beloved cousin—it should be a grand affair, adding kinship to kinship, joy to joy. So why… was there not a whisper of it outside?

And with such urgency, how could there be only one embroiderer? With just over a month left, how could she possibly complete it all!

She began to panic as she thought of Yue Rongrong. Could it be that Yue Rongrong had known all along and deliberately angered Miss Jin? Ren Hanzhen’s eyes turned cold in an instant.

Maids in noble households often carried an air of arrogance. Seeing her so frightened, the maidservant couldn’t help but disdain her. The previous Embroidery Lady Yue hadn’t asked so many questions. Her tone became dismissive. "Just focus on your embroidery. The Duke’s residence will handle everything for our cousin’s wedding. Why are you so scared?"

Ren Hanzhen’s face flushed bright red. She gave a cold look at the maidservant and said nothing more.

Being looked down upon by a mere maidservant filled Ren Hanzhen with shame and anger. Watching the maidservant’s retreating figure, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in her eyes, and she directed all her hatred toward Yue Rongrong, tightening her grip on the embroidery needle.

**

As the setting sun cast a golden glow, Jin Tangsong waited anxiously in the front hall, eagerly anticipating a certain figure. Finally, she spotted that stately, dignified figure and her eyes lit up as she rushed over.

"Cousin," she called affectionately.

Shen Jichen responded with a noncommittal "hmm." Jin Tangsong’s smile faltered slightly but quickly returned.

"Cousin, the patterns for the wedding dress are sketched out. Please take a look." Without waiting for Shen Jichen to refuse, she immediately called out, "Bring them here."

Then she turned back, staring intently at Shen Jichen, her smile gradually stiffening.

"Cousin..." she called cautiously.

Shen Jichen withdrew his gaze, his eyes turning dark as he looked at Jin Tangsong. "Who is she?"

Hearing the coldness in his tone, Ren Hanzhen, holding the patterns, froze, not daring to move.

Jin Tangsong frowned. "She’s the new embroiderer."

"Yue... where’s the previous one?" Shen Jichen asked coldly.

Jin Tangsong looked at him meaningfully. "She left! The manager sent her as a replacement."

Shen Jichen’s expression darkened. He recalled how Yue Rongrong had deliberately provoked him yesterday—she must have refused to come. She had always been willful.

Jin Tangsong swallowed, not daring to be capricious, and asked quietly, "Do you want her to return, Cousin?"

Shen Jichen said sternly, "This is your wedding dress. You decide." With that, he left.

Jin Tangsong breathed a sigh of relief, her expression shifting entirely as she turned around, radiant. "You’ll come from now on."

Ren Hanzhen couldn’t make sense of the exchange. Marquis Shen seemed very displeased to see her. Why?

But her unease didn’t last long. As she left the marquis’s residence, a carriage stopped in front of her. Staring at the luxurious vehicle, she felt taken aback until Wen Song stepped out, looking down at her from his superior position.

"Miss, the marquis asks you to board the carriage."

Wen Song was very displeased, especially when he saw Ren Hanzhen’s poorly concealed shyness and her calm, gentle demeanor as she entered the carriage.

"Thank you, Marquis." Ren Hanzhen stepped inside, her expression growing even softer.

Shen Jichen gave a slight, courteous nod but said nothing.

Ren Hanzhen suppressed the speculation and excitement bubbling inside her, sitting calmly by the door, opposite Wen Song.

Though they weren't alone in the carriage, who else had the fortune and capability to ride in Marquis Shen’s carriage and have him personally see them off?

The more this thought occurred to her, the more refined and modest Ren Hanzhen behaved, sitting upright and proper, though her heart pounded fiercely.

They arrived at Brocade Tower’s west gate, but Shen Jichen remained cold and distant throughout. Wen Song invited Ren Hanzhen to disembark, and a pang of disappointment washed over her. She didn’t understand: if Shen Jichen wanted to offer her a ride, he must like her, so why wouldn’t he speak to her?

"Miss Ren, we’re here." Almost as soon as the carriage stopped, Wen Song immediately stood and opened the door.

Ren Hanzhen found his smile too glaring but still smiled toward Shen Jichen, waiting expectantly.

But Shen Jichen didn’t even look at her, nor did he ask her to stay. She had no choice but to rise slowly, curtsy, mask her disappointment, and alight gracefully—she had to leave a good impression.

Wen Song smiled insincerely. "Take care, Miss Ren."

Ren Hanzhen detested Wen Song’s smile but had to return it with one of her own. She didn’t understand what Shen Jichen meant or what his true feelings toward her were. But then she thought: Marquis Shen was exalted and reserved by nature, perhaps he simply didn’t like to talk. After all, if he had no interest, why would he offer her a ride? With that thought, her steps lightened as she entered Brocade Tower.

The moment she turned away, Wen Song shut the carriage door immediately. He disapproved of this Miss Ren. Entering the carriage, he asked Shen Jichen, "Marquis, shall we head to Qingyang Tower now?"

Qingyang Tower was one of the top restaurants in the capital. Today, Han Zixian was hosting a banquet there for Ye Shuyi’s pregnancy.

Shen Jichen lifted the curtain and murmured after a long pause, "Hmm."

After yesterday, he should have accepted the reality of Yue Rongrong's stance and stopped clinging to false hopes. Yet he still took a detour under the pretext of escorting the embroiderer, like drinking poison to quench a thirst. His gaze out the window was calm yet detached.

Wen Song watched quietly until they had left the street and could no longer see Brocade Tower. Only then did his lord lower the curtain, and the carriage fell into a tense silence.

He hardly dared to breathe. After what felt like an eternity, his nerves began to ease. He turned to look out the other window, thinking they must be nearing Qingyang Tower soon, when suddenly he gasped, abruptly cutting off the sound and tensing up all over.

"What's going on?"

A low voice came from behind him. Wen Song’s body trembled, and he turned around, managing an awkward smile. "It's nothing."

Shen Jichen stared coldly at him, his brow furrowed. "Open the curtain."

Wen Song pleaded, "My lord..."

"Open it."

Wen Song’s shoulders trembled, and he hurriedly lifted the curtain.

Shen Jichen looked out, and his eyes narrowed. His face, which had been calm and unruffled just moments before, now turned icy with a storm brewing. Wen Song shivered involuntarily.