53 Cold Palace (1/2)

By Gao Zizheng arrived at his manor by mid-evening. Descending the carriage with the help of his housekeeper.

He hurried to his quarters where he ordered a bath be drawn immediately. Thereby, peeling off his outer clothes and throwing them on the floor. As a servant walked in with a wooden bucket to pour in the water for the bath. As the order was given abruptly, and the water could not be heated quickly enough, he said: \”Second master, this might take some time.\”

Gao Zizheng shooed his hand, \”Quickly, quickly.\” Just as the servant bowed and prepared to turn around, \”Wait.\” he points to the clothes sitting on the ground and says \”Burn it.\”

\”Huu...?\”

\”I SAID BURN IT!\” Gao Zizheng bursts in fury.

The servant only nods and brings the clothes along with the bucket back to the kitchen. Confused as to why the second master would want him to destroy the clothes that were in perfect condition.

At the kitchen, he hands the clothes to a servant boy fanning at the fireplace. Embers and smoke float around the air, and the boy is coughing. \”The second master ordered it to be burned.\”

The servant boy takes the clothes and inspects them. Finding no moth holes or imperfections, he asks: \”Why does the second master want to take a bath so early, and order his clothes to be burned?\”

\”How should I know, it is not our place to ask anyway.\”

The servant boy immediately stops talking, and tosses the clothes into the fireplace, as he would toss wood. With the fire well-fed, it grows larger. This continues until the cloth is entirely consumed and not a trace of it remains.

~

\”Wen Jian, what time is it?\”

\”It is almost midnight Madam.\” A voice says from the shadows.

\”Understood, you may leave now.\”

Quiet fell from within the shadows. It was uncertain whether the person had left, or if the person simply stayed silent without a single movement.