Chapter 4: 003 Miss Ruyi

In the painting of Ruyi Building, the first floor is bustling with guests, while the second floor remains quiet. In the room at the end of the corridor, behind a screen, a woman in white sits in front of a dressing table, combing her long hair with great intensity.

Her hair is indeed beautiful—jet black like crow feathers, smooth as silk, making one long to touch it. With such exquisite hair, it is only fitting that she has a stunning owner. Reflected in the bronze mirror is an alluring face.

The woman possesses a pair of round, cat-like eyes that seem to hook your heart when she gazes at you. When she lowers her eyes, she exudes an enchanting aura, her eyelashes fluttering slightly. Her lips are not the typical cherry shape; they are slightly plump and fuller than most, adding a hint of allure to her smile.

This is the renowned Miss Ruyi, one of the reasons why Ruyi Building is always filled with guests. Few who have seen her, especially men, can resist her charm.

“Miss, the time is up. mom asked me to check if you’re ready for the meeting,” a maid gently knocked on the door and inquired in a low voice.

The maid thought she heard the woman inside let out a soft sigh. Confused, she wondered what could possibly trouble Miss Ruyi. After all, she is the most beautiful woman in all of Jinling. No other courtesan in the Qinhuai district can compare to her. Guests spend lavishly just to catch a glimpse of her face, and countless poems have been written in her praise along the Qinhuai River.

The maid simply didn’t understand. Miss Ruyi had combed her hair one hundred and thirty-three times, yet she still awaited someone who never arrived.

Setting down the comb, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror, preparing to rise and attend the meeting she had long anticipated. Suddenly, the candlelight on the table flickered.

Ruyi paused, stepped back, and scanned the dimly lit room warily. “Who’s there?”

Shen Fu wanted to tease her, but she was discovered just as she flew up to the beam. She had no choice but to jump down and said, “It’s me. You are still so sharp. I can’t understand why I can never escape your eyes, even though you are a woman who doesn’t know martial arts.”

When Ruyi saw Shen Fu, she was stunned at first, and then she laughed

“Tell mom to come back later. I have something else to do.” she instructed the maid outside.

After dismissing the maid, she gracefully walked to the table, poured herself a cup of tea, and said, “Didn’t you leave? When will you return to Jinling? I thought you might have forgotten to visit me.”

There was a hint of playful reproach in her tone, accompanied by a strange smile.

Shen Fu took the teacup, sipped the warm tea, and sat down at the table with a grin. “You’re too kind. Please, have a seat. I just arrived in Jinling at noon today. I heard your name, Miss Ruyi, on the road and couldn’t resist coming to see what the first beauty of Jinling looks like.”

Ruyi glared at her playfully, pretending to be angry. “Since you’ve already seen me, don’t think about leaving now!”

“Don’t be angry, don’t be angry!” Shen Fu pulled an envelope from her pocket and placed it on the table. “First, look at what I brought you, then decide whether to kick me out.”

“What is this…?” Ruyi asked, a bit confused. She took the envelope, opened it, and pulled out its contents. As she unfolded it, her eyes widened, and a mix of surprise, excitement, and countless other emotions flashed across her face.

She stared at the item in disbelief, blinked, and tears began to fall. Ruyi’s surname is Song, and she had fallen into obscurity after her family was ruined, becoming a common citizen. What Shen Fu had given her was the deed to her ancestral home in the capital, where she was born and raised.

“How did you get this? Isn’t this house sealed by the government…?”

After a moment, she looked up at Shen Fu with wide, hopeful eyes.

Shen Fu replied triumphantly, “A clever plan from a wise person—can you catch me now?”

“Don’t rush, don’t rush.” Ruyi carefully placed the land deed back into the envelope and set it aside, looking at Shen Fu. “Now that you’ve shown me such kindness, I’m not sure how to repay you. It’s enough for me to agree to your request.”

Her serious demeanor made Shen Fu feel a bit uncomfortable. “Why do you say such things? If you hadn’t saved me when I was a fledgling, I wouldn’t be here now. No matter how I repay you, it won’t be enough. You don’t need to say anything. If you want to escape this quagmire, I can help you change your life. It’s not a problem.”

She carefully planned for Ruyi, saying, “Whether you want to support your family, become an independent woman, or find a husband, I can help you arrange it.”

As Ruyi considered her future, she became momentarily lost in thought. Before Shen Fu could notice, she abruptly turned her head away, not wanting Shen Fu to see her vulnerability. With a wry smile, she said, “The world is difficult, especially for women. It’s harder than being in the dust. Where can I go?”

“I know you mean well, and I believe you can achieve what you set out to do. But Afu, I’m a vain woman, a restless woman. I can’t bear the thought of being praised by men and then living a mundane life. Those boring days are behind me. Now, I am the Miss Ruyi from Ruyi Building. All the men must please me with their attention. But if I become a good girl, I’ll have to stay home, embroider every day, wait for my family to arrange a marriage, marry a stranger, manage the household, have children, and tolerate my husband. How can I endure that?”

“You mustn’t be so arrogant,” Shen Fu said seriously, looking at Ruyi. “In my eyes, there’s no braver woman than you. This world is inherently difficult for women. You can find your own way to live. I don’t want you to live by the rules, but I’ll be happy for you. Vanity and the desire for love are not wrong. I fight and kill in the rivers and lakes not for fame. If I were truly vain, I would seek a life of anonymity, where no one knows my name. In fact, I am a vain person. Go to the rivers and lakes and ask—who doesn’t know of the restless woman named Shen Shuangdao?”

Ruyi laughed, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Shen Fu. “You are a chivalrous woman. I’m glad to hear of your reputation. Among us women, there should always be someone who stands out. Let those men know that women can match them.”

Shen Fu felt a bit uncomfortable under her gaze, as if she were sitting on a pin. She wanted to stand up to escape the pressure but abruptly changed the subject. “I heard the maid ask earlier. You seem to have something to do. Am I delaying you?”

“Those ordinary people out there are no better than my Afu,” Ruyi replied casually. “It’s an honor for them to wait for me.” Noticing Shen Fu’s expression of discomfort, she understood that she was the type who didn’t want to disturb her friend. She stood up, sat in front of the mirror, and began to tidy up her makeup, which had been smudged from her earlier tears. While doing so, she asked, “You mentioned you were going to the capital to find someone. Did you find them?”

At the mention of the deceased, Shen Fu involuntarily stood up and walked to the window, then abruptly returned. “I found her, but she’s still a burden on your property deed. What she does is complicated.”

Ruyi responded, “If I have the chance in the future, I must thank her.”

“There’s no need to thank her. She has a strange temper—moody and difficult. Helping you is just a small favor for her. Don’t take it too seriously.”

“Afu rarely speaks so harshly,” Ruyi said, understanding Shen Fu’s character. She knew that Shen Fu wasn’t the type to gossip behind people’s backs. The fact that she spoke so critically about someone must mean they were close. Although she laughed, the warmth in her smile faded. “It seems this person is very close to you. I want to know more about who could earn such a sharp evaluation from you.”

Thinking about Ruyi’s meeting with Zhao Qin made Shen Fu’s head spin. “Don’t… stay in the capital for two months.”

Ruyi replied, “That’s a pity.”

After finishing her makeup, she stood up gracefully. “Afu, wait for me in the room. I’ll deal with those people and come back. I haven’t seen you in a long time, and I have so much to tell you. Please, tell me what the rivers and lakes are like.”

“I really can’t spare the time today. I have important matters to attend to tomorrow…” Shen Fu hesitated, knowing she couldn’t afford to chat with Ruyi in the middle of the night. She feared that if Zhao Qin learned about her late-night visit, she would feel a chill creeping up her spine.

Seeing Shen Fu’s refusal, Ruyi’s expression fell slightly.

She chuckled softly, mocking herself a bit. “It’s wishful thinking. You’ve found an old friend, so you must have a lot to do. How can I delay you?”

Feeling guilty, Shen Fu hurriedly reassured her, “Ruyi, please don’t think that way. I’m not deliberately avoiding you. Once I finish these trivial matters, I’ll share all the stories from the rivers and lakes with you. If you feel I haven’t told you enough, I can even bring Mr. Baige over.”

Ruyi’s eyes lit up at the mention of Mr. Baige. “Mr. Baige? The one who wrote ‘The Overbearing Enchantress Fell in Love with Me’?”

The name was quite bold. Ruyi said it so naturally that Shen Fu felt a bit embarrassed.

Shen Fu nodded, “Yes… yes, that’s her.”

Ruyi’s face lit up with a youthful joy. “Then you can’t go back on your word!”

Seeing her smile, Shen Fu breathed a sigh of relief. “I promise.”

Unexpectedly, Ruyi extended her little finger, paused for a moment, then hooked it with Shen Fu’s.

As Ruyi walked out alone, Shen Fu prepared to leave. She had delivered the items and seen the person; her visit to Ruyi Building was complete.

However, as soon as she opened the door, a dark shadow rushed in.

Although Shen Fu was known for her dual swords, her close-combat skills were not weak. In a flash, she pinned the intruder to the ground.

“Ouch!”

The familiar voice rang out.

Wasn’t this Mr. Baige, the very person they had just been discussing?