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Ink Garden Mystery
墨書 Inktalez
In the Jiangnan region, the Plum Rain Season brings continuous drizzle, enveloping Wuzhen in a dreamlike haze. The cobblestone paths are slick, reflecting the blurred outlines of the white walls and dark tiles on either side. Deep within this ink wash painting lies a residence known as the Ink Garden. Its high walls are as white as rice paper, and the tiles are as black as ink splashes. Two imposing stone lions stand guard at the entrance, their presence accentuated by the rain.
In the afternoon, an unremarkable blue cloth sedan chair comes to a stop before the tightly shut black lacquered gates of the Ink Garden. The curtain is lifted, revealing a man in his thirties who steps out. He wears a somewhat worn indigo long gown, his face lean and marked by an enduring melancholy that seems to linger in his brow. Yet, his eyes shine with an unusual sharpness and clarity amidst the misty rain. This man is Shen Mo, formerly an official in the capital's Xingbu. Due to his straightforward nature, he inadvertently offended powerful figures of the court and was dismissed from his post, returning home in disgrace. Now, he wanders through Jiangnan, making a living by solving cases and writing legal documents for others. His success in unraveling several difficult cases has earned him a modest reputation for his keen insight.
Today, he has been summoned by none other than Wen Boyuan, the renowned owner of the Ink Garden—a wealthy merchant and a distinguished collector of antiques and paintings. However, as Shen Mo crosses the high threshold into the Ink Garden, he is met not with a welcoming smile from his host but with an overwhelming cloud of sorrow that hangs heavy over the entire estate.
Guiding him is Uncle Zhong, the elderly steward of the Ink Garden. In his sixties, with graying hair and a face etched with time's passage, his once-sharp eyes now appear clouded and filled with unshed tears. "Mr. Shen," Uncle Zhong's voice is hoarse with emotion, "you have finally arrived! My master... he... he is in trouble!"
Shen Mo's heart sinks, though he maintains a composed exterior. Following Uncle Zhong, he traverses through intricately carved corridors and navigates around jagged rock formations and shimmering ponds. The scale of the Ink Garden exceeds his expectations; pavilions and towers are arranged harmoniously along winding paths, each scene reflecting the owner's exceptional taste and meticulous elegance. Yet at this moment, that elegance is shrouded in an invisible gloom that weighs heavily on the air, making it difficult to breathe.
They finally stop outside a study named Wen Xin Zhai. This is where Wen Boyuan usually reads, admires his collections, and practices calligraphy. However, at this moment, several anxious servants gather outside the door along with officials in uniform who whisper among themselves in a tense atmosphere.
Uncle Zhong gestures for Shen Mo to wait while he hurries forward to speak quietly with a middle-aged man dressed in county officer's attire. The officer's surname is Zhang; upon seeing Shen Mo, he displays a complex expression—part urgent plea for help mixed with a hint of instinctive caution towards an outsider meddling in official matters.
"Mr. Shen," Captain Zhang eventually bows slightly, his tone polite yet tinged with helplessness. "I have long heard of your esteemed name. This case involving Master Wen... it truly seems peculiar and exceedingly difficult. I hope you can lend your expertise to help us resolve it swiftly."
Shen Mo returns the gesture with calmness in his voice: "Captain Zhang is too kind; I will do my best. May I inquire about Master Wen's specific situation?"
Captain Zhang exhales heavily and steps aside to open the door to Wen Xin Zhai: "You should see for yourself." His voice carries an unspoken gravity. Shen Mo nods, takes a deep breath, and steps into this ominous study. A faint yet peculiar Sweet Fragrance mingled with Mo Xiang immediately envelops him as he crosses the threshold.
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