The ox-cart swayed and jolted for two days, picking up a few more girls along the way, before finally arriving at a large compound in Tongyu Alley in the western suburbs of Jingdu.
As soon as the door was pushed open, the spacious courtyard was filled with all sorts of people. Some were even locked in cages.
Though the crowd was large, no one dared to speak.
Chen Shiyi kept her head down, not daring to let her eyes wander, and obediently followed the steward inside.
All seven girls were herded into a dimly lit woodshed. Straw mats were haphazardly laid out along the two walls, leaving a narrow passageway in the middle. The withered, yellow straw was scattered everywhere. On the wall, a tiny window let in a cold light.
The woodshed was already crowded with many people. Their expressions were numb, showing no surprise at the arrival of Chen Shiyi and the others. They merely glanced up briefly before turning back to lie down again.
Chen Shiyi spent three days in such a room.
Over those three days, many people left, and many more arrived.
A girl who had been there longer than her whispered to her quietly.
"If you get the chance, you must try to be sold during this period. Otherwise, after eight days, the places you'll end up are no different from death."
"How do you know so much?"
"Oh, I've been sold twice, so of course I know."
On the fourth day, Chen Shiyi and four other girls were called out.
In the courtyard, Cai Yapozi wore a fawning expression. Beside her stood an old man with a goatee, looking shrewd and full of self-importance.
"Steward Xu, how dare we trouble you to come in person? If you need anyone, you could just send someone to call for us."
Steward Xu seemed to sneer at Cai Yapozi's flattery, his sharp eyes filled with disdain.
"Only these few?"
Cai Yapozi immediately stepped forward to explain.
"These girls are all from simple farming families. I guarantee they are honest and obedient."
She pointed at them as she introduced them.
"This girl is quite beautiful. The one in blue is remarkable—she can read. The one next to her is good at embroidery. The fair-skinned one is quick-witted…"
When it came to Chen Shiyi, Cai Yapozi paused for a moment, trying several times to speak but not knowing what to say.
"This one… is honest…"
Steward Xu glanced over the group and slowly shook his head.
"You don't fancy any of them? Wait a moment, I'll bring another batch right away."
Seeing this, Chen Shiyi pushed aside her fear, quickly knelt before Steward Xu, and kowtowed several times, her head hitting the ground audibly.
"Uncle Xu, please buy me! I can work hard—any dirty or tiring job, I can do it. And I eat very little, just one meal a day is enough…"
Cai Yapozi was startled by Chen Shiyi's sudden action and hurriedly tried to smooth things over with Steward Xu.
"Another batch will be here right away."
After saying this, she shot a fierce glare at Chen Shiyi, signaling her to get up, shut up, and return to the woodshed. She then gave a meaningful look to the burly guards nearby, instructing them to take Chen Shiyi away.
It was unclear which words had moved Steward Xu, but he took a closer look at Chen Shiyi again. A flicker of some unreadable emotion passed through his shrewd eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
He then reached out, tilted Chen Shiyi's chin up, and examined her teeth.
"Hmm, the bone structure is decent. It's just that she's been underfed for a long time. Alright, I'll take her."
Cai Yapozi was stunned for a moment before quickly plastering a smile on her face.
"Excellent choice, Steward Xu. You have a good eye and a kind heart…"
Chen Shiyi sat sideways on the edge of the carriage, following Steward Xu from the western suburbs of Jingdu into the inner city of the capital.
Chen Shiyi had lived in Xiangyang Village all her life, and the farthest she had ever been was Qingliu Town, back when she had carried two loads of firewood there to sell.
Now, shops with carved beams and painted rafters lined both sides of the street. On the bustling road, carriages came and went, each more luxurious than the last. From the eaves of the carriages, bells jingled merrily, emitting pleasant tinkling sounds…
The extreme prosperity at the foot of the imperial capital dazzled her eyes.
She lowered her head and noticed the patched clothes she wore, her excited thoughts quietly subdued.
This prosperity had nothing to do with her.
The carriage twisted and turned through winding streets before finally stopping in a deep alley flanked by high walls.
The walls were so tall they blocked out the sun, with only a sliver of light seeping through. At the base of the walls, fresh green moss grew, and at the end of the moss, on a brick landing, stood a woman dressed in a crisp blue outfit, whispering with Steward Xu.
After a moment, the old woman beckoned to Chen Shiyi, casting a sharp glance her way as if deeply dissatisfied.
"Steward Xu's judgment really gets worse every year, bringing all sorts into the mansion…"
Though she grumbled under her breath, her movements were brisk and efficient.
She opened an extremely narrow door. Inside, seven or eight people stood quietly and obediently on either side. Two of the women patted Chen Shiyi down, nodded in approval, and then handed her over to another woman who led her further inside.
Chen Shiyi kept her head down and followed the woman obediently. After walking for what felt like an eternity, they finally stopped.
"New arrival. Steward Xu said the main kitchen courtyard is short-handed, so he found someone diligent and capable."
A pair of warm hands took Chen Shiyi's.
"Your hands are covered in calluses—you're clearly no stranger to hard work."
"Alright, I've brought her. I'll be off now…"
"Child, lift your head."
Chen Shiyi looked up to see a smiling face before her.
The woman was very kind and patted Chen Shiyi's shoulder.
"Come, I'll take you to get settled first, then assign you your duties."
In a tidy, square room, many beds were lined up in rows. Opposite the beds were stacks of dark-colored trunks.
The room was bright, with sunlight streaming through the windows, and a faint, pleasant fragrance lingered in the air.
"Will I be living here?"
The woman noticed Chen Shiyi's awestruck expression and smiled gently.
She pointed to a bed against the wall.
"You'll sleep there. That pale green trunk is empty—it's for your personal belongings. Clothes, shoes, and socks all go inside. Change into this set of clothes, tie your hair into a bun, and fasten it with a blue ribbon. This way, it's easy to tell which courtyard you belong to. Make sure not to lose it."
Chen Shiyi felt a bit dizzy.
In that single moment, she was living in a grand brick-tiled house, had a trunk like those used by brides when they married, wore new clothes, and even adorned her hair with silk accessories…
For so many years, she had begged her father to buy her a hair ribbon, but he never did, not even by the time he died. And now, all these things she had dreamed of were suddenly within her grasp.
It felt like a dream.
"What's your name?"
"Chen Shiyi."
"As a purchased maid, you cannot keep your surname. From now on, you'll be called Shiyi. I am the overseer of the main kitchen courtyard. Everyone calls me Auntie Shi."
Under Auntie Shi's arrangement, Chen Shiyi worked as a fire-tending maid in the main kitchen courtyard.
This work was extremely simple for Chen Shiyi.
Moreover, the people here were very kind to her.
An old woman named Lin, who specialized in preparing soups for the masters, once called Chen Shiyi over to help her lift a clay pot off the charcoal fire. Unable to find a wet cloth, Chen Shiyi lifted it directly with her bare hands and burned her left hand.
Old Mrs. Lin hastily muttered "Amitabha Buddha" under her breath, soaking Chen Shiyi's left hand in cold water for quite some time. She applied a cooling ointment and then wrapped her hand in white gauze.
"What a silly girl, not even knowing to cry out in pain."
The midday meal was exceptionally lavish: snowy white rice, glistening green vegetables, and a golden fried egg coated in a rich sauce. Old Mrs. Lin had even secretly hidden a piece of braised pork at the bottom of her bowl.
How many years had it been since she last ate meat?
She nibbled at the meat in tiny bites, afraid to finish it too quickly. Her mouth watered, and the lingering taste was exquisite. Later, she even licked the bowl clean.
She had never imagined that one day she would live a life as blissful as that of the immortals.
Not long after the meal, a woman swayed into the main kitchen courtyard.
Old Mrs. Lin told Chen Shiyi that this was the head maid from the Second Young Mistress’s courtyard.
"Is the Second Young Mistress’s beauty tonic ready?"
"Of course it is."
The head maid flicked the handkerchief from her bosom and said to Chen Shiyi.
"You, carry it, and follow me."
Chen Shiyi had originally thought the place she lived was a heavenly palace, but upon reaching the inner courtyard, she finally understood what it meant to descend into a celestial mansion on earth.
Exquisitely carved miniature mountains cascaded with crystal-clear streams, mist rising and spilling into winding brooks. A covered bridge arched over the flowing water, where hurried and intrusive footsteps overpowered the gentle, tinkling sounds. Along both sides of the corridor, azure-purple drapes fluttered in the wind, their tassels dancing gracefully. The courtyard was filled with drifting white pear petals, their fragrance permeating the air. The spring breeze swept through, scattering a carpet of glistening white blossoms.
Living here, one could surely add a few more years to their life.
Chen Shiyi lowered her gaze, respectfully holding the tonic, not daring to slacken.
At a moon gate, someone took the tonic from her hands and instructed Chen Shiyi to leave quickly.
Before she could reach the covered bridge, the tranquil courtyard suddenly erupted into a clamor—cries, pleas for mercy, and hurried footsteps, all in chaotic disarray…
Had something happened?