Ghostly Fragrance [COMPLETED] [UNEDITED]

Back at Blossoming Fragrance

Both parties bowed to each other, however, the man that Fangsu was unfamiliar with, cupped his hand instead. "We meet again young man, " Fangsu's grandpa stated while looking at Li Qiang with a glance.

"Indeed, Elder Chen." Li Qiang responded curtly, giving his own glance back to the elderly man.

"Qiang'er! Chen Hong! Don't be rude!" The empress dowager lightly scolds both men, while Fangsu who was quietly nibbling at the pastries that the senior attendant had offered, quietly thanking the attendant. "This is why I much prefer having girls instead of boys, Fangsu do you like the pastries?" The empress dowager inquired the quiet girl.

Fangsu swallowed the pastry, nodding in response as she continues to eat the pastries. "I'm just a hungry since I didn't eat breakfast this morning." Fangsu blurted out without thinking.

"You haven't eaten! Chen Hong!" The Empress Dowager shook angrily, "Fangsu is still a growing girl! She needs to eat otherwise she won't grow properly! Someone bring some dishes over for breakfast!" Numerous servants quickly rush to prepare dishes, Fangsu bowed her head in embarrassed as the servants set up the table for eating. An array of dishes were placed on the table, all plentiful and beautiful. "Everyone let's eat." The empress dowager ordered everyone, Li Qiang, Fangsu and her grandpa sat at the table with the dowager. Fangsu began eating the dishes sheepishly as she had eaten a little beforehand, the rest were eating peaceful and no words were exchanged between the four individuals.

Curious about her surrounding, Fangsu looked around to see that the man that accompanied Li Qiang was enviously staring at the dishes. Fangsu took a clean bowl with rice, placing side dishes on the rice and handing it to the man, "Eat." Fangsu handed the bowl to him, who nervously took the bowl from her hands, "What is your name?"

"Gang Hai." The man curtly responded, avoiding eye contact with Fangsu as if it would burn him.

Fangsu returned to her seat and continued eating breakfast, occasionally her grandpa and the dowager would place food in her bowl. "I'm full, " Fangsu placed her chopsticks down and the senior attendant took her bowl away as if she knew Fangsu didn't want to be fed by the two older people. After the meal was finished the dishes were taken away both Li Qiang and Gang Hai excused themselves.

Both Fangsu and her grandpa prepared to leave, but the dowager took Fangsu's hand placing a green-blue jade pendant that was rectangular in shape with a Qilin symbol engraved on it, "I was hoping to give you this when we first met and I hope you visit this old woman occasionally." The dowager sadly held on Fangsu's hands.

Fangsu gentle squeezed back at the dowager's hands, "I promise I will visit once in a while, " Fangsu promised to the elderly woman, walking down the palace stairs.

Her grandpa stood next to the dowager, "You are the second person, Fangsu promised to visit."

"Second? Who was the first?" the dowager asked curiously while staring at the back of Fangsu's distant back.

"Xu Yang, " he replied, walking down the stairs to where Fangsu was waiting at the carriage. Both grandpa and granddaughter left the palace.

————

Fangsu and her grandpa arrived back at the estate and they decided to go out for the day. Another day at the Blossoming Fragrance, Fangsu got to meet with all the women who worked at the teahouse. All of them were girls that her grandpa had taken in from the streets, loyal to the Chen family which gave them a new life away from the dangers of the streets. All their personality had been tempered to that of women of high standing, only partaking in conversation with their customers selling their arts, not their bodies. The women took Fangsu to a private room, dressing her up in luxurious clothes and applying makeup, "Is it a must to wear these things?" Fangsu questioned after one of the women applied a coral pink rouge on her lips. Fangsu was changed into a moss green dress with lotus flower embroidery on the hem of the dress with white accents to emphasis the design.