The rhythmic clatter of the carriage wheels against the cobblestones grew increasingly crisp. The driver’s booming voice echoed through the carriage, “Young Master, we have arrived in the capital!”
Shen Qinghuan opened her eyes sharply. The exhaustion from days of travel was instantly swept away by a surge of keen resolve. She lifted the heavy carriage curtain, and at once, a gust of wind carrying the bustling energy and smoke of city life rushed in.
Before her stood the towering city gate, its vermillion paint glowing with a subdued luster under the daylight. The guards, clad in black armor and holding long spears, stood as straight as pine trees. Inside and outside the gate, the scene was a river of carriages and a sea of people; pedestrians in silks and satins mingled with those in coarse, short tunics, each wearing their own expression. The shouts of peddlers, the laughter of children, and the sounds of traditional instruments wafting from taverns wove together into a vibrant tapestry of city life.
Along the streets stood buildings with carved beams and painted rafters, hanging golden-lettered banners of wine shops. The shop windows were filled with shimmering silks, and even the bamboo skewers in the hands of the street-side hawkers were wiped clean.
Watching this vivid and extravagant scene, Shen Qinghuan felt a momentary sense of daze. This capital is exactly like those historical dramas I watched in my past life—bustling beyond belief, she thought. Yet, the clash of hidden swords and shadow-wars behind this spectacle is something only those caught in the middle can truly understand.
“Young Master, where shall I pull the carriage over?” The driver pulled on the reins and turned to ask.
Shen Qinghuan collected her thoughts, her gaze sweeping over a relatively quiet alley at the corner of the street. “Go to the Yue Lai Inn in that alley. Find a quiet spot to stop.”
“Understood!” The driver responded, guiding the carriage into the alley. Soon, they pulled up in front of the inn.
Shen Qinghuan stepped down nimbly and pulled 50 taels of silver from her sleeve, handing it to the driver. The man’s eyes lit up immediately, and he bowed in gratitude. “Thank you for your generosity, Young Master! If you need a carriage again in the future, just come to the Old Wang Carriage Firm at the city gate and ask for me.”
Shen Qinghuan gave a slight nod. Watching the carriage recede, the sound of horse hooves fading into the distance, she walked into the inn.
As soon as she entered, a waiter wearing a green short-jacket and a white apron bustled over with a beaming smile, his voice bright and clear. “Welcome, guest! Are you here for a room or for a meal? Our shop’s braised pork knuckles and roast goose legs are the best in the capital—the fragrance drifts three streets away!”
Shen Qinghuan scanned the lobby. It was peak dining hour, and the tables were filled with patrons drinking and chatting in low voices. The air was thick with the scent of food and the faint tang of wine. She withdrew her gaze and said to the waiter, “I need a private room on the second floor. The quieter, the better.”
“Understood, rest assured, guest.” The waiter led her toward the stairs, prattling on as they walked. “The rooms on the second floor face the street; they are bright and airy. If you get bored, you can open the window to watch the bustle outside. Our manager says that overnight guests get a free pot of Dragon Well tea—I guarantee you’ll find it refreshing.”
Shen Qinghuan didn’t reply, simply following the waiter upstairs. He led her to the very last room at the end of the hall. “Take a look, guest. This room is the quietest; there is no one staying in the room next door, so no one will disturb your rest.”
Shen Qinghuan stepped inside. The room was simple, featuring a table, a chair, and a bed, all clean and tidy. A pot of fresh bamboo by the window added a touch of life to the elegant space. Satisfied, she nodded and pulled a string of copper coins from her sleeve. “Here is for your trouble.”
“Oh, you are too generous, guest! If you need anything, just call for me—my name is Xiao Sanzi, remember that!” He nimbly brewed a pot of tea, placed it on the table, and tactfully exited, pulling the door shut behind him.
Shen Qinghuan latched the door and walked to the window, pushing it half open. The evening breeze carried the clamor of the city from afar, thick with the scent of human life. She gently stroked her lower abdomen.
Her spiritual space had integrated with this body; it was the unique reliance she had awakened after crossing over. With a flick of her consciousness, she could clearly perceive the scene within. In the black soil, spiritual energy misted, and the hundred-year-old ganoderma was growing vigorously. In the storage area, sleeping drugs, silver needles, and various disguises were all readily available, and the exquisite courtyard stood silently by the spiritual spring.
A cold, sharp light flashed in her eyes. Shen Cong’an, the Minister of Personnel, was her biological father, yet he was a quintessential scoundrel. The dowry, gold, jewelry, antiques, paintings, and fertile shops left by the original owner’s mother should have been her foundation, yet most had been swallowed up by Shen Cong’an and her vicious stepmother, the Wang woman, working in collusion.
They used that wealth to curry favor with the powerful, paving the way for her stepsister, Shen Chuchu, in hopes of marrying her into an even higher-status family. Meanwhile, they had casually tossed the original owner to a country estate to fend for herself.
Tonight, not only will I reclaim my mother’s dowry, but I will also sweep away all the ill-gotten gains hoarded in Shen Cong’an’s residence. My trashy father and stepmother love wealth more than their own kin? Then I will cut off their path to luxury. Today is just the interest; it’s merely the appetizer for this great revenge.
Shen Qinghuan closed her eyes, meditating and circulating the spiritual energy from her space to nourish her body. Days of travel had left her tired despite the spiritual energy, and she needed to conserve her strength for the actions to come.
Time passed until the sky outside turned completely dark and the noise in the inn’s lobby grew louder. Shen Qinghuan opened her eyes and rubbed her temples. Feeling a slight hunger, she smoothed her dress and stepped out.
As soon as she reached the lobby, Xiao Sanzi spotted her and hurried over. “Guest, are you ready to eat?”
“Bring me two light dishes and a pot of rice wine,” Shen Qinghuan said, choosing a corner seat.
Xiao Sanzi quickly served two plates—cold lotus root slices and stir-fried seasonal vegetables—along with a pot of warm rice wine. Shen Qinghuan sipped her wine slowly, her ears pricked, listening to the gossip of the patrons.
At a neighboring table, several men were drinking until their faces were red. One man with a thick beard pounded the table. “Have you heard? The Duke of Zhen’s estate made a huge fool of themselves yesterday!”
“Oh? What happened? Tell us!” The others grew excited, leaning in.
The bearded man took a smug gulp of wine and lowered his voice, just enough for those around to hear. “You know the Duke’s precious youngest son, the spoiled heir Zhao Yu? Well, he snuck out over the wall last night to visit the brothels, but he got the wrong door and ended up crashing straight into the Alley of Matchmakers in the West District. Hahaha!”