Tokyo, Kaifeng Prefecture Office.
In the long river of Chinese history, the position of Kaifeng Prefecture Magistrate during the Northern Song Dynasty was particularly special. Not only was it located at the foot of the imperial palace, but more importantly, since the founding of the dynasty, it had been held by the crown prince. For instance, both Emperor Taizong and Emperor Zhenzong had served in this role before ascending the throne. In truth, it was not difficult to understand: Kaifeng was situated in the capital, allowing one to communicate with the emperor, govern the people, and interact with various powerful figures. It was indeed an ideal platform for cultivating a royal successor.
However, since the reign of Emperor Renzong, the scarcity of imperial descendants had remained an issue. The current emperor was engrossed in pleasure and paid little attention to the matter of the crown prince, so the position was now held by an official surnamed Teng.
Magistrate Teng’s days were far from smooth. In the capital, even a dog seemed to have connections, and he often found himself caught between conflicting pressures. Moreover, the population was vast, with significant movement and daily trivialities piling up endlessly. As it happened, he now faced a particularly thorny matter.
Glancing at the woman sitting dazedly on a chair in the hall, Magistrate Teng whispered, “Well? Has the person not arrived yet?”
“No, likely not until tomorrow,” Sun Kongmu beside him gently shook his head. “Otherwise, this humble official could go question her and see if we can extract some information.”
Just as Magistrate Teng was about to nod, a bailiff came forward to report that someone from the Grand Zongzheng Si had arrived. Overjoyed, Magistrate Teng immediately ordered his subordinate to invite them in.
The visitor was a lean, elderly man. Upon seeing Magistrate Teng, he did not offer a formal greeting, merely giving a slight nod. “Zhao Xiaoying, Zongzheng Si Cheng.”
Having served in the capital for many years, Magistrate Teng was long accustomed to the arrogance of these imperial relatives. Unperturbed, he instructed Sun Kongmu to accompany him in questioning the woman, as he had other official duties to attend to and would not stay longer.
Watching the man who seemed to slip away as if his feet were greased, Zhao Xiaoying said nothing, a trace of mockery flashing in his eyes. The two entered the hall and saw Zhao Chunmei, who had regained her composure but appeared somewhat uneasy.
To her shame, after being rescued that day, she had been utterly terrified. When the monk asked her a few questions, her answers were halting and incoherent. Seeing that communication was impossible, the monk simply went to report the incident to the authorities, and eventually, officials took her away. As it was already late, she was accommodated overnight at the county office. The next day, after washing her face and changing out of the clothes stained with blood, brain matter, and various human tissues, she finally felt as though she had come back to life.
The young girl now had a pale, delicate face. Her usually sharp brows and eyes drooped slightly, and her dark, beautiful hair cascaded over her soft, smooth neck, making her appear truly pitiable.
Recalling her ordeal, Zhao Xiaoying sighed and spoke as gently as possible. “I reviewed the register recorded by Shao Jie. Your father is Zhao Xianzhi, Sanban Jiezhi?”
Members of the Song dynasty imperial clan typically held nominal positions, and Sanban Jiezhi was the lowest rank for military officers. This indicated just how poorly the murdered man had fared.
Zhao Chunmei was taken aback for a moment before realizing that in her dazed state the previous day, she had given her surname from her previous life. Now, they likely assumed she was the daughter of a colleague. Just as she was about to explain, she heard the elderly man across from her comfort her, saying, “Do not be afraid. As a member of the imperial clan, we will not trouble you under such circumstances. We are merely confirming the details.”
Sensing something implied in his words, Zhao Chunmei cautiously asked, “If I were not a member of the imperial clan, would there be trouble…?”
“How could that be? Si Cheng simply wants to put you at ease,” Sun Kongmu interjected hastily.
Zhao Xiaoying sneered, “That’s hard to say. With such an incident happening near Bianjing City, and the victim being a member of the imperial clan, Prefect Teng would be more than happy to have someone step forward and take the blame right now. If she weren’t surnamed Zhao, she’d probably have been thrown into prison yesterday for colluding with bandits and conspiring to harm others.”
Sun Kongmu, subjected to his mockery, could only stand awkwardly to the side.
Ignoring him, Zhao Xiaoying repeated his earlier question, “Is your father Zhao Xianzhi?”
The girl remained silent for a moment before softly replying, “Yes… yes, I am Zhao Xianzhi’s daughter. My name is Zhao Chunmei.”
Zhao Xiaoying looked her up and down, confirming that her stature and age matched, and nodded.
“By seniority, you should call me granduncle,” he said, then sighed. “Your father was a studious child. What a pity.”
“Yesterday, the Imperial Clan Court reported your situation to His Majesty. After hearing it, His Majesty took pity on your loneliness and hardship, ordering us to find a suitable burial site in the outskirts of the capital for your parents and brothers. He also bestowed some valuables upon you. Since members of the imperial clan from outside the capital are not permitted to come to Kaifeng without special permission, we couldn’t notify your uncles. If you wish to return to your hometown, I can arrange for someone to escort you back.”
Upon hearing this, Zhao Chunmei shook her head repeatedly, saying she had no intention of returning for now.
The old man showed no surprise at her response. People tend to despise the poor and fawn over the rich. Given how poorly Zhao Xianzhi had lived, his relationship with his relatives was likely strained. As a lone girl, returning home would only invite bullying.
“That’s just as well. Bianjing offers convenience in food and lodging. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can come to the Imperial Clan Court to find me. As for her household register…” Zhao Xiaoying turned to Sun Kongmu.
The so-called “household register” can be roughly understood as a capital residency permit. Unlike all previous dynasties, the Great Song’s household registration system was particularly open. Even individuals without fixed abode, employment, or registration could settle in Dongjing City after registering and residing there for a full year. However, such individuals were only classified as “temporary residents.” To upgrade to “permanent resident” status and obtain a “household register,” they needed to reside continuously for seven years and possess certain immovable property. With a household register, one could not only participate in the Imperial Examination in Tokyo but also enjoy greater convenience in purchasing property and handling affairs.
Understanding the situation, Sun Kongmu immediately thumped his chest and assured, “Rest assured, Vice Minister. Leave it to us.” The brutal murder of an imperial clan member near Kaifeng Prefecture was unprecedented since the founding of the dynasty, startling even the emperor, who typically paid little attention to such matters. As the administrator of Kaifeng’s public security, Prefect Teng was overwhelmed. If it pleased his superiors, he would even call someone “grandfather”—let alone issuing a household register!
Zhao Xiaoying acknowledged indifferently and prepared to take the girl away. Before leaving, Zhao Chunmei hesitated and slowly said, “There was another girl traveling with us. Could she be buried beside my parents…”
Hearing this, the two men thought her kind-hearted and did not refuse.
Outside the prefectural office, the items bestowed by the emperor were loaded onto an oxcart. Following protocol, Zhao Xiaoying took out the inventory and read it aloud.
“Thirty bolts of clothing, headwear, silk shoes, twenty bolts; hemp shoes, seven bolts… one fine brocade jacket with kingfisher feather trim, one gold belt weighing twenty taels.”
It must be said, the items were quite comprehensive—clothing for all seasons, medicines, ingredients, gold and silver utensils—everything one could need. The reading alone took over ten minutes, leaving Zhao Chunmei somewhat astonished by the end.
What she didn’t know was that even this still didn’t satisfy Zhao Xiaoying. After all, previous emperors had bestowed upon the imperial clan fertile lands and houses as rewards. But now, the Son of Heaven indulged in extravagance day and night, leaving the state treasury depleted. Over the years, the allowances for the imperial clan had been repeatedly cut, and discontent had long been simmering to a certain degree. With such a major incident now occurring, everyone was watching to see the emperor’s stance.
Unfortunately…
After finishing his thoughts, Zhao Xiaoying sighed and said to the young woman with a hint of apology, “I’m sorry you’ve had to endure this, child.”
Preoccupied with her own concerns, Zhao Chunmei didn’t react much to this, only managing a faint smile.
This made Zhao Xiaoying think even more highly of her maturity. He ordered his subordinates to escort her to an inn and guard her for a while, leaving only after she had settled down.
Reflecting on everything that had happened along the way, Zhao Chunmei didn’t refuse. After repeatedly thanking the old man, the two parted ways.
With the servant’s help, Zhao Chunmei successfully checked into a chain inn. It had to be said, Tokyo truly lived up to its reputation as a city of a million people. Not only was the inn’s accommodation tranquil, but its service was also first-rate.
Seeing Zhao Chunmei’s disheveled appearance, the innkeeper automatically prepared hot water and indoor undergarments for her. He also thoughtfully assured her that each room was highly independent and private, so she could rest assured.
In such a comfortable environment, the tension that had been coiled tightly within Zhao Chunmei finally began to ease.
Soaking in the bathtub, she looked up at the sky, feeling dazed as if she had crossed over into another world once again.
But then… it wasn’t too different from crossing over.
Thinking about how she had now taken on someone else’s identity, Zhao Chunmei felt deeply guilty.
True, she had only spent a few days with that family, and their relationship hadn’t been harmonious. But as the saying goes, death extinguishes all grievances. Recalling the conflicts they had before, they seemed trivial in the face of life and death. Yet, if Zhao Chunmei were to tell the truth, she lacked the righteous courage to do so.
She was no saint. Her own life had been saved through immense hardship, and she couldn’t bear to throw it away here…
With a long sigh, she decided to take things one step at a time.
After washing up, Zhao Chunmei felt hungry, having not eaten anything since the previous day. She went to find the guard Zhao Xiaoying had left behind and asked where she could get a good meal.
“A good meal? Then you must go to Fengle Tower. It’s the foremost of Tokyo’s seventy-two renowned restaurants—utterly magnificent. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the peerless Lady Li, renowned for both her beauty and talent…” The servant was quite lively and spoke enthusiastically.
The “Fengle Tower” he mentioned was likely the world-famous Fan Tower, while “Lady Li” referred to the Famous Courtesan Li Shishi. Under normal circumstances, Zhao Chunmei might have felt a spark of curiosity about these, but now, exhausted both physically and mentally, she had no interest. Shaking her head, she said, “I just want to find a place to eat. Is there somewhere lively, preferably with lots of snacks?”
“Of course! Near Zhuque Gate, right by Zhou Bridge—you could spend a whole day there if you wanted. It’s not far. I’ll take you there right away,” the servant replied cheerfully.
And so, under his guidance, Zhao Chunmei caught a glimpse of a corner of the Great Song capital.
Though it was still morning, the streets of Kaifeng were bustling with pedestrians. Shopkeepers stood outside their stores, enthusiastically beckoning customers; groups of scholars gathered, reciting poetry, painting, and wielding their brushes with flair; a tea-seller with three flowers in her hair tapped her lantern, ordering her assistants to work; beneath the bridge, several young girls scooped water to rinse their silk, catching sight of passersby and revealing shy smiles…
Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants—people from all walks of life, from every social class, crowded the streets in a lively, endless stream.
Strangely enough, Zhao Chunmei had been feeling restless and irritable, but upon witnessing this vibrant tapestry of everyday life, she gradually began to calm down.
She bought a jasmine hairpin from a flower-selling child nearby and, while paying, gave the child two extra coins. Seeing the child’s delighted smile, Chunmei couldn’t help but smile as well.
Taking a deep breath of the jasmine in her hand, only one thought filled Zhao Chunmei’s mind at that moment.
It truly is wonderful to be alive!