Thunder rumbled, lightning split the sky, and torrential rain poured down, drenching everything beneath. The heavens were alive with bursts of thunder.
Am I in Fierce Alley?
I found myself on a deserted street; few pedestrians hurried by under oil-paper umbrellas, rushing through the downpour.
What wonderful rain, what wonderful rain... hahahaha.
Suddenly, I saw a striking figure on the street—a pale-faced scholar standing in the pouring rain, letting it drench him until he was soaked through.
I walked a little closer. He seemed not to see me, but the moment I laid eyes on him, I was stunned—it was Lord Wraith. This pale scholar was Lord Wraith, the same one I saw at the Feast of Ten Thousand Ghosts.
His brows exuded a noble and heroic air. Even though he was drenched, he remained a striking young man.
"Is he crazy?" whispered the passing pedestrians, covering their mouths as they walked by, laughing.
I saw a few people sheltering from the rain under the eaves of a shop, pointing and gossiping.
"Isn't that the crazy scholar from the outskirts? Hahaha."
That's right. Always dreaming of becoming an official, but failing the exams year after year. He's probably lost his mind.
I heard the people sheltering under the eaves say this as I walked over. Lord Wraith seemed unable to see me, and what I saw was his memory.
I looked around. The street was vibrant with blooming flowers, and the sounds of the bustling city came through the rain.
I stood beside Lord Wraith, watching him. For someone so twisted, I really couldn't understand what made him become Lord Wraith.
As the rain eased, Lord Wraith suddenly lay down on the ground, looking at the sky and laughing wildly. He splashed his hands and feet in the puddles like a child at play.
A delicate green dress swayed in the wind and rain, a purple oil-paper umbrella painted with plum blossoms, and a faint plum fragrance drifted by.
Master, you're soaked through...
Suddenly, my eyes widened. The woman before me was Mia Lin, about eighteen or nineteen, strikingly beautiful. She stood above Lord Wraith, then bent down to hold the umbrella for him.
Miss, no umbrella can shield the storms in my heart... But if your dress gets wet because of me, I could die a thousand deaths and still not be forgiven.
Mia Lin giggled, and Lord Wraith laughed heartily as well.
A wild gust blew by, snatching Mia Lin's oil-paper umbrella from her hands. She rested her chin in her hands, smiling sweetly at Lord Wraith.
So these two know each other?
I stared in surprise, mouth agape, eyes wide, watching Mia Lin and Lord Wraith gaze at each other in a daze.
Master, take this money and buy yourself some writing supplies. I really admire your character... bending but never breaking.
Miss, you're too kind. Please, stand up and come under the eaves, or you'll catch a chill." Lord Wraith crawled out of the water.
Mia Lin trembled all over, and Lord Wraith helped her up.
Miss, your dress...
My dress is wet, it doesn't matter. Even the finest dress can't shield me from the storms in my heart, isn't that right... Master Du...
Mia Lin said this, spun lightly, giggled, and splashed away through the puddles.
Lord Wraith stared blankly at Mia Lin's departing figure, then looked at the money she had just given him, still warm and scented with plum blossoms.
Lord Wraith turned around and picked up the oil-paper umbrella that the wind had blown to the ground.
Miss, I haven't asked your name yet. I...
Mia Lin glanced back with a smile and got into a carriage. As she lowered the curtain, she smiled sweetly at Du Zesheng.
For a long time, the scholar named Du Zesheng, after death, became Lord Wraith. He stood dazed in the rain until it stopped, finally putting away the purple oil-paper umbrella.
What a wonderful scent, so warm, so... hahahaha.
Du Zesheng strode off with wild, splayed steps, splashing through puddles and laughing loudly as he walked away. I hurried after him.
The sun rose over the horizon, painting the sky bright red. A droplet fell with a plop, sending ripples across the water.
A graceful lady, a gentleman's desire...
Accompanied by cheerful reading, a shabby house with bare walls contained only a stiff bed and a small vermilion table, stained with black ink.
On the table were writing tools, faded with age. In the corner, a simple bookshelf sagged under a pile of thick books, nearly collapsing.
In front of the room was a small pond, filled with lotus buds about to bloom, the leaves glistening with dew.
Du Zesheng paced inside, shaking his head and reading from a book. The money Mia Lin gave him last night remained untouched.
I was surprised—such a wicked ghost, yet in life, Du Zesheng was this kind of person.
After a while, Du Zesheng got up, went to the back, grabbed some rice, and after cooking for a while, ate a bowl of porridge with lotus leaves. Satisfied, he carried a small cloth bag and left.
By listening to the people around, I learned that Du Zesheng, though young in appearance, was actually thirty-seven, orphaned, unmarried, and taught children at a nearby private school.
Du Zesheng lived a simple life but was generous and kind. Though he had little money, he acted with great virtue, accepting only daily necessities from the children who came to study.
Locals called him Mr. Du, but city dwellers thought him mad. Du Zesheng was proud and wrote excellent essays, but failed the imperial exams year after year.
From the surrounding gossip, I learned that the officialdom was corrupt. To pass the exams, one needed to bribe powerful officials. Many locals sympathized with Du Zesheng, but the world was as it was; those with power could skip the exams and simply appear before the emperor on results day.
There were seventy or eighty children of different ages in the school, all listening attentively as Du Zesheng taught. At that moment, a figure in purple darted in and sat in the last row—it was Mia Lin.
Du Zesheng's voice became flustered. Mia Lin put a finger to her lips, playfully leaning against the back wall.
The day's lessons ended with Du Zesheng repeatedly misreading words.
After class, Mia Lin handed out small gifts to all the children. In the end, only she and Du Zesheng remained.
Miss, wait a moment. I'll go home and return your money and gifts.
Mr. Du, why haven't you used the money and gifts I gave you? I had my servant bring some clothes—try them on and see if they fit.
But Du Zesheng refused everything, his brows showing his integrity, unwilling to accept any charity from Mia Lin.
Seeing this, my impression of Lord Wraith as a pervert was completely overturned.
Day after day, Mia Lin came to the school to watch Du Zesheng teach, and she enjoyed spending time with the students.
Although I was interested in Lord Wraith, I decided to follow Mia Lin instead.
I ran after the carriage through streets and alleys, until I reached a grand mansion with a red and black gate and a high threshold. A bell rang at the door, and with a creak, the gate opened.
Miss.
On the left stood a row of servants, twenty or thirty in all; on the right were two young maids. Mia Lin rushed in, followed closely by the maids.
"Father." As I entered the main hall, I saw a dignified, handsome man in his forties, dressed in fine clothes, sitting and drinking tea.
"Xue'er, what's wrong? Did you go see that crazy scholar again?"
Mia Lin pouted, glared at her father, and muttered.
"Mr. Du isn't crazy at all. He's a learned man—just unlucky in his career. If you don't believe me, Father, go see for yourself someday."
"Oh, daughter, he's just a poor teacher. Why would I bother? Next month, Magistrate Wu is coming, and I must prepare a feast. And his son—like father, like son. You should think about it, daughter. You're already twenty-nine. If you don't marry soon, you'll be an old maid."
"Father..." Mia Lin said coquettishly.
Seeing the happy family, I looked around. Mia Lin's house was large and well-known in the city, a wealthy merchant family with connections to many officials.
"Miss, Ning'er can see you've taken a liking to Mr. Du..."
Ning'er, hush. If you keep talking, I'll tell Father you sneak snacks in the kitchen every night.
"Miss, don't!" Ning'er blushed and ran away.
I followed Mia Lin for several days. She often visited Du Zesheng's school, sometimes bringing gifts, sometimes just watching from afar.
Du Zesheng never accepted any gifts, but Mia Lin kept trying.
After a while, I realized that Du Zesheng was deeply in love with Mia Lin, but Mia Lin's family background made him feel unworthy.
One day, Mia Lin waited for Du Zesheng outside the school. She wore a purple dress and held a bouquet of plum blossoms.
Mr. Du, I have a question for you.