Five days later, Shen Mingyu finally arrived in the capital.
She gazed at the towering, majestic city walls before her, the pavilions and bucket arch eaves atop the city gates. In the exact center of the high wall hung a dark red plaque inscribed with three characters: “Tongtian Gate” (Gate to the Heavens).
Beneath the city tower, crowds surged with both men and women. There were massive, rolling merchant caravans, petty vendors of all sorts carrying shoulder poles, and carriages arriving from time to time.
Those carriages were lacquered in fine rosewood, their awnings draped with dense fringes, looking far more imposing than any she had ever seen back in the county town—through that thin, wing-like gauze window, it seemed as though one could even catch a glimpse of the fairy sitting inside… Yet at this moment, a circle of soldiers holding long halberds was stationed beneath the city tower, conducting routine inspections of people entering and leaving.
Shen Mingyu queued at the very end of the line, carrying her small bundle, her curious eyes looking left and right as she nervously clutched the identity tally in her hand.
Half an hour later, she finally passed through successfully.
She walked through the bustling streets and alleys of the capital. The place was clamorous with human voices, lined with row upon row of buildings and stalls selling all sorts of things.
The capital truly lived up to its reputation as a grand place; even the attire of the peddlers was quite exquisite. Shen Mingyu curiously eyed the food stalls, seeing and hearing of many things she had never encountered before.
Her heart itched with the desire to shop, but when she felt her purse, it had withered down to a mere five taels of silver.
Traveling from a small mountain village all the way to the massive capital, even with careful scrimping and saving, still consumed a considerable amount of travel expenses. And right now, she had no idea how long she would have to stay in the capital… Shen Mingyu forced her gaze away from the small stalls.
Shen Mingyu inquired everywhere and found the cheapest inn she could to spend the night.
She stripped off her original old woman disguise; this time, she was a proper young maiden. Fearing the Marquis’s estate might refuse to see her, she deliberately put on her best jewelry.
The red-veined jade bracelet glowed quietly under the sunlight, exceptionally heavy and deep. For that brief moment, the young woman’s thoughts drifted and swayed, recalling a certain sultry, firefly-filled summer night… that person with alluring brows and eyes who had given her the bracelet…
However, she quickly reined in her thoughts, shouldered her bundle, and set off once more.
Wearing a white-gauze veil hat and inquiring along the way, she learned that the wealthy and noble families resided in the northwest of the capital.
Half an hour later, she finally reached the bustling Imperial Street.
This place was unexpectedly even livelier than the market in the South Market.
Passing through the Imperial Street, the northwestern direction opened up into interconnected wards and alleys. Shen Mingyu walked along with her small bundle, asking questions as she went, until she finally bypassed several large wards and turned into a bluestone alley far from the bustling noise.
Just as she entered the alley, she was startled by the weeping willows planted densely along both sides.
The willow trees she had ever seen were always a bluish-green, but now, she was actually seeing such towering golden silk willows—as a gentle breeze blew, the willow branches swayed softly and rhythmically, as if studded with dazzling golden light. Willow trees of this sort were worth a thousand gold and were things she had only ever read about in books.
The more she looked, the more unreal it felt.
Ever since entering the capital, the world had turned upside down, and she felt as if she had stepped onto a cloud, traveling from the distant muddy earth into the mortal world. No wonder the poet wrote: Thousands of lamps blaze brilliantly until the third watch ends, the luxury and splendor of Bianjing have no match under heaven.
The Marquis of Wu’an’s estate sat like a crouching giant beast at the very end of the green alley.
The entire residence was magnificent and grand, with intersecting flying eaves. At that moment, rotating guards were on duty by the main gates, wearing headwraps and neatly tailored clothes, looking just like Confucian scholars in the county town. Behind the gates of the Marquis’s estate lay an endless spirit wall, alongside patrolling silver-armored guards.
Shen Mingyu clutched her small bundle and walked forward. As expected, she was questioned about her origins by the gate guards.
Her nimble little mind spun, and she said sincerely, “I am here to deliver a message on behalf of my master. My master’s identity is inconvenient to disclose. Might I trouble you big brothers to pass the word and introduce me to the steward?”
Through the veil, they couldn’t see her true face. But judging from her accent, they could tell it wasn’t the authentic official tongue.
The two gate guards looked her up and down in meticulous detail—calling her shabby was an understatement; even that light pink linen outfit she wore wasn’t as soft as the fabric of their own clothes, the sort of rags nobody would take even if given away for free nowadays.
Finally, their gazes fixed on the red bracelet on the young woman’s wrist—also cheap goods; they wouldn’t buy such jewelry for their wives back home either.
Of course, Shen Mingyu had no idea that the most expensive attire she had managed to scrape together with all her effort appeared so shabby in the eyes of the Marquis’s estate guards, leading them to even doubt whether her master was a person of any standing or face.
She had never been to such a wealthy place in her life, nor had she ever imagined that one day she would be able to stand before such a towering residence.
Faced with unknown and imposing entities, there was naturally a sense of timidity in her heart.
She observed with caution and care, until their cold, disdainful tones came through: “At this hour, our steward probably has no spare time. The young lady would do better to hand the letter over for the two of us to pass along.”
“This place is the Marquis’s estate, and the people coming and going are great figures neither you nor I can afford to offend. It’s not suitable to linger here long. You had better leave quickly.”
Shen Mingyu knew there was no hope; they were chasing her away.
They looked down on her, long since treating her like a beggar and wanting to drive her off. In grand households, especially among the servants of a Marquis’s estate, everyone valued keeping up appearances; they didn’t say it bluntly, but only gave cold and haughty hints.
Still, it didn’t matter. Such an outcome had been anticipated long ago. She wouldn’t be discouraged.
The young woman didn’t take back that original letter, but instead handed over a prepared alternative letter, politely thanking them with a smile before turning away with her small bundle.
Passing through the heavy vermilion doors, inside the east storeroom of the front courtyard at that moment.
Steward Xue Ding was checking the accounts of rare treasures and flowers sent over by the accounting department when he heard a quiet quarrel breaking out outside the door.
“The steward is busy right now…”
“You even accept a beggar’s letter? What do you take our front courtyard for? Watch out for a scolding if the steward finds out…”
“Big brother is right to teach me…”
The buzzing debate like gnats gave Xue Ding no peace.
Having been scolded just today by Second Master for poor execution of tasks, he was already filled with guilt and found such a commotion even more annoying. Without a pleasant expression, he pushed the door open: “What are you chattering on about? Are your guts growing bolder by the day? Have you forgotten the rules and decorum of the estate?”
Reprimanded by Xue Ding, several pages hurriedly admitted their mistake and tremblingly handed over a letter.
Xue Ding glanced at it with slight surprise, followed by a deeply furrowed brow—this letter was actually addressed to the Marquis’s wife?
Yet who in the estate didn’t know that the Marquis’s wife was in a fit of rage because of her daughter’s affair? Who would dare flutter around in front of her? Anyone entering the main chamber moved with utmost caution, terrified of touching off the mistress’s wrath.
Besides, it was a letter of unknown origin; delivering it there was practically asking for his life.
Xue Ding asked, “The other party is a woman? What did she say?”
“She said she was delivering news on behalf of her master.”
“On behalf of her master?” Xue Ding slowly chewed over those two words. “According to what you said, her attire is quite shabby, so I suppose her master isn’t any person of high status or standing. How could someone like that cross paths with our Marquis’s estate?”
Though still somewhat uneasy, Xue Ding didn’t dare provoke the mistress’s wrath, so he could only hold the letter, frowning in deep contemplation.
Finally, as if a sudden thought struck him, he sneered: “I get it. Another poor relative coming to sponge off us, right? Claiming they want to see the mistress, when who knows how many generations removed they are, and nobody even recognizes them. How many times this month have such poor relatives shown up?”
After balancing the accounts, Xue Ding had just sat down to rest and hadn’t even finished two sips of tea when he received another bolt from the blue—Second Master Jun had ordered dishes from the Pan Family Restaurant and wanted them delivered to the main chamber.
This time, Xue Ding could no longer avoid it. Reluctant as he was, he still had to bite the bullet and make the trip.
Xue Ding brought two companions along to the main courtyard, first making contact with the head maid, Caihuan.
Even Caihuan wasn’t serving inside the room, which showed how unwelcoming the Marquis’s wife was to anyone else at the moment.
Yet Xue Ding still had to bite the bullet and press forward.
Nervously, Xue Ding stood beside the sandalwood-carved floral door of the main chamber. He took a breath, took another breath, and just as he was mustering the courage to speak out, he was suddenly startled by a voice from inside.
“What are you standing there for, acting all sneaky?”
On the pear-wood daybed inside the room, the Marquis’s wife was half-reclining, with an incense burner placed beside her.
She wore a gray-blue needle-pressed Kesi (cut-silk) antique satin gown, with a pair of polished turquoise pomegranate earrings dangling by her ears, her hair styled into a lazy bun, and a chiseled jade thumb ring on her hand.
Though already past forty, her grace was undiminished, marked by a single red mole between her brows. It was just that these past few days of worrying day and night over her daughter had left her eyes bloodshot.
When had Xue Ding ever seen the mistress like this?
Their mistress came from a noble background—the eldest legitimate daughter of the Grand Defender’s Estate and wife of the Marquis of Wu’an. She was graceful and luxurious; among all the aristocratic families of the capital, it had always been her leaving others at a loss.
“Reporting to the mistress, Second Master has a message to pass along.”
Jiang Lan had been pinning all her thoughts and hopes on her daughter’s news day and night, yet a month was nearly passing without a whisper of wind.
Though comforted by her husband and accompanied by her children, her life was still more fortunate than most women’s. But every midnight, she couldn’t help thinking of her daughter wandering out there, who had left her birth mother not long after birth. A motherless child had no milk to drink; that wicked woman certainly wouldn’t treat her child well.
Damnable, truly damnable—that woman was still untraceable now, neither seen alive nor found dead.
Jiang Lan had been depressed these past days, and seeing that things couldn’t go on like this, Caihuan had suggested taking the opportunity of purchasing supplies to accompany her for a walk in the market, perhaps to clear her mind.
Now that there was no news of her daughter, what if she could never see her again in this lifetime?
Knowing she couldn’t go on like this, Jiang Lan simply agreed to Caihuan.
Whenever the Marquis’s wife went out, she was invariably accompanied by fragrant carriages, beautiful maidservants, and a retinue of guards. The only places they would visit were the West Market and Imperial Street. Since both areas were close to the imperial city and land values were high, many high-ranking officials and nobles lived there, keeping the crowds from being too miscellaneous or disorderly.
Today, for some reason, as Jiang Lan gazed at the row-upon-row buildings and high-tiered pavilions of the West Market, she found them utterly insipid; thus, the carriage neither knew whether to move or stop.
Finally, the luxurious matron inside the carriage glanced up at the sky, propped her forehead with her hand, and said, “Then let’s go take a look at the South Market.”
Hearing this, everyone was astonished.
The South Market area was crowded and chaotic, populated by true commoners. In the past, let alone coming out for ordinary shopping, even during temple fairs the mistress would never set foot in such a place.
When the carriage arrived at the South Market, the Marquis’s wife was supported as she stepped down onto the footstool, and Caihuan hurried forward to steady her. Feeling uneasy, she called for five additional guards.
The South Market was crowded and noisy, and the Marquis’s wife had walked barely two steps before she grew impatient with the din.
She thought she must truly have gone mad. Why on earth would she come to a place like this of all places? It was utterly a loss of status.
She waved her hand, just about to tell her maidservants to turn the carriage back home, when suddenly, her attention was caught by a crisp cry of peddling.
“Selling kumquats! Fragrant and sweet kumquats, plump and juicy!”
In front of the citrus stall, Shen Mingyu was enthusiastically soliciting customers.
This was the eighteenth day since she had come to the capital.
Land values in Bianjing were high, and food and lodging were expensive. Even though she had tried very hard to scrimp and save, living off steamed buns and pickles every day, the money in her purse was still shrinking rapidly.
Faster than she was…
And the Marquis’s estate wasn’t a place an ordinary person could reach. With no other choice, she had to temporarily suspend her mission of searching for family and hurriedly find a job to support herself.
The citrus stall was the first job Shen Mingyu found.
She was quick-witted, and her fruit always sold exceptionally well. However, on the fifth day of Shen Mingyu selling kumquats, close to dusk, a noble matron approached the stall.
Because she wanted to save money, Shen Mingyu had always lived in a dilapidated small inn in the South Market. When she wasn’t going to the Marquis’s estate, she only moved around this area—the men, women, and children of the capital all dressed nicely, wearing clothes that would only be seen on slightly wealthy families back in Pingyang County.
Yet today, she actually laid eyes on a matron like an immortal maiden, broadening her horizons once again.
That matron was draped in fragrant silk and trailing sleeves, surrounded by pearls and jade, every gesture exuding an air of effortless grace. Shen Mingyu realized with a start that she was truly seeing a real fairy today, and stared without blinking.
The matron was exceptionally beautiful, with willow-leaf brows, phoenix eyes, and a single cinnabar mole between her brows. She glanced at the kumquats on the stall and parted her lips in a soft query: “How much are these?”