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When Xing Ruyi went to Liu's residence to deliver the Amber Smoke, she happened to encounter Hong Xing leaving. She was being supported by Bitao, her face pale, and although her eyes were filled with deep pain, she still forced a smile and nodded in greeting as she passed by Xing Ruyi. In contrast, Bitao turned her face away, seemingly ignoring her.
"Master Liu, Madam Liu," Xing Ruyi said as she entered, handing the box of Amber Smoke to Madam Liu's maid.
"Look at this, a mere box of goods, and yet it troubles Ruyi to deliver it personally," Madam Liu remarked, leading the Fox Demon to the table and instructing the maid to pour tea.
Xing Ruyi turned her head and glanced at Hong Xing's frail figure as she walked away. Especially with Bitao beside her, it evoked a sense of pity. However, fate follows its own course and does not heed human wishes; all she could do was sigh lightly.
"She is the concubine of the Zhang family's second master, named Hong Xing. I heard she used to be a maid by the side of the eldest master," Madam Liu said, noticing that Xing Ruyi was staring at Hong Xing's back. Thinking that Ruyi was curious, she continued speaking on her own: "This year has been quite eventful for the Zhang family. First, the eldest master proudly took a concubine, only to end up embroiled in an affair that led to a murder case, resulting in him losing his head in a muddled manner. Now that the second master is in charge, his concubine has finally become pregnant but has inexplicably suffered a miscarriage. Ruyi has only recently moved to Luoyang and may not know much about the Zhang family. They are considered one of the prominent families in our city; both brothers are talented businessmen. But as merchants go, they are driven by profit— the bigger their business grows, the more morally questionable things they tend to do. The Zhang brothers are living examples of this. Despite having many wives and concubines in their household, they have no offspring. With the eldest master deceased, it would be one thing; now that the second master finally had a child on the way, he has lost it too. As for Hong Xing, she will undoubtedly suffer because of this child in the Zhang family; her future days will likely be difficult."
"Who can we blame for their misfortune? When I examined her earlier, I warned her about the instability of her pregnancy. If she didn't take care of herself, can we really blame others?" Master Liu interjected angrily from the side. It seemed he was irritated because Hong Xing had lost her child and he bore some of the resentment.
"Pregnancy is inherently risky for women. Carrying a child for ten months may seem easy, but actually giving birth is not something that can be achieved simply by maternal care," Xing Ruyi replied as she raised her teacup and took a sip that tasted bitter.
"That's true for the Fox Demon’s daughter," Madam Liu responded with a nod but then turned pale and sighed deeply. "Common families fear that children are hard to raise; wealthy families worry that children are hard to conceive. It seems that the second master of the Zhang family must have had concerns when he sent Hong Xing's sister to look after her. Who would have thought it would end up like this? My husband has unjustly borne much resentment."
Half a month later, news suddenly spread from the Zhang family that the second master's concubine had hanged herself out of worry and despair. Being merely a concubine and dying in such an undignified manner, the Zhang family only provided a cheap coffin for her hasty burial.
As night fell and starlight dimmed over desolate hills with chilling winds blowing,
Xing Ruyi arrived at a newly piled grave mound and gently sighed at its headstone. After her sigh faded away, an apricot tree began to grow slowly atop the grave; within just half an incense stick's time, it blossomed. The flowers burst forth with the wind, releasing an incredibly rich fragrance.
"Good and evil will eventually be rewarded; it's not that retribution doesn't come but rather that the time hasn't arrived yet. I will help you resolve your worries; after today’s hour passes, you can peacefully reincarnate. In your next life, you will have a good husband and a lovely daughter."
A wisp of white smoke rose from the roots of the apricot tree, then transformed into a woman in white. After giving a gentle bow to Xing Ruyi, she dissipated.
With a sigh, Xing Ruyi plucked all the apricot blossoms from the tree and carefully stored them away, stepping back into the city under the twinkling starlight. As she passed Wang's Tofu Shop, she couldn't help but glance at the old mulberry tree. Since the day Chang Tai and his companions had begun their grim tasks, the old mulberry tree had completely lost its vitality; it was likely to wither away by winter.
"Humans commit sins, and trees suffer for it. What sense is there in that?" she sighed softly before turning towards Ruyi Workshop. The old mulberry tree trembled slightly, shaking off its last few leaves.
After the seventh day following the red apricot's passing, Bitao returned to Ruyi Workshop. Compared to her previous visits, her attire was more luxurious, though the color combinations were somewhat gaudy.
"Peach Blossom Girl, are you not busy today?" Xing Ruyi greeted with a smile, her cool gaze sweeping over Bitao's swaying red hairpin.
"I am indeed busy, but today is different; I’m preoccupied with important matters at home," Bitao replied with a hint of pride in her tone. "Have you prepared what I asked for last time? Oh, and besides that, I also want to pick out some high-quality rouge and face powder for myself."
"Peach Blossom Girl is truly extravagant," Xing Ruyi remarked as she took several boxes from the shelf and laid them out one by one. "These are all new products; please have a look and see if any suit your taste."
"No need to look; just wrap them all up for me," Bitao waved her hand dismissively without even glancing at them. "By the way, you can still call me 'Miss' today, but next time I come, you'll have to call me 'Madam.'"
"Oh? From what Peach Blossom Girl says, could it be that good news is approaching?" Xing Ruyi asked casually while packing up the rouge and face powder.
"Naturally it's good news, but it has nothing to do with your selling of rouge and face powder. Just remember to call me 'Madam' when I come next time. Of course, I won't be coming alone; I'll have some maids and servants with me. To be honest, while your shop's rouge and face powder are excellent, it's quite a distance for me to walk. Next time I come, I must take a sedan chair."
"Of course! Peach Blossom Girl looks like someone from a wealthy family," Xing Ruyi said as she pushed the packaged rouge and face powder towards her. "These are your items; will you take them now or send someone to collect them later?"
Bitao's ears turned slightly red as she awkwardly replied, "Since I'm here now, I naturally want to take them back right away. By the way, what about the items I requested last time? I paid for those long ago."
"Here, we have already prepared it for the young lady." Xing Ruyi said, pulling out a white porcelain bottle from beneath the counter. The bottle was beautifully adorned with a peach blossom and an apricot blossom entwined around each other.
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