Shen Hui's words struck like a sudden clap of thunder, leaving Shen Wei wide-eyed and speechless for a long while.
"You mean… Father harmed Mother?" Shen Wei suddenly burst into tears.
"Yes. Aunt knows the truth, which is why Father drove a wedge between us and her." Shen Hui chewed on the crisp, juicy Chinese onion, casually spinning lies without a hint of guilt.
Shen Father and Lady Jiang were indeed despicable in character, but as for the matter of plotting against his first wife, Lady Xu, even though Shen Hui knew the plot from the book, she couldn't gather all the evidence.
But it didn't matter.
She merely needed a reason to seek refuge with her aunt.
Shen Hui remembered that Madam Xu had long resented Shen Father and was deeply suspicious. She had only refrained from taking action out of consideration for her nieces. Now was the perfect time for Shen Hui to hand her the knife.
Indecision breeds chaos. If they wanted to avoid being implicated by Shen Father, cutting ties completely was the best strategy.
"I… I…" As a daughter, Shen Wei felt bound by filial piety and wanted to defend her father, but after much thought, she couldn't find a way to refute Shen Hui's words.
Indeed.
Back when Father remarried, everyone marveled at how quickly Lady Jiang entered the household, as if it had been premeditated…
It was utterly outrageous.
Lady Jiang was certainly detestable, but if Father had been a decent man, how could that woman have had the chance to mistreat her and her sister, throwing her weight around?
"See? Even someone as obedient as you can no longer defend Father." Shen Hui gave Shen Wei no room to retreat, pressing on relentlessly, her sharp words piercing Shen Wei's heart like a blade. "Besides, aren't you the one who always talks about filial piety? If you ignore the murder of your own mother and continue to serve the murderer, that's more than just unfilial. It's disloyal, unfilial, and shielding a criminal. A hundred years from now, the judge of the underworld will surely condemn you to Avici Hell."
To persuade someone like this, fighting fire with fire worked best.
Shen Wei was timid. Hearing the word "hell," she trembled with fear, her face gradually paling. She remained silent, sobbing softly.
"So, have you made up your mind?" Shen Hui ignored her, focusing solely on eating.
After finishing one and a half pieces of baked hubing, she wrapped the remaining half in a clean cloth and stuffed it into her bundle.
She had long prepared everything needed for their escape.
The bundle contained all the essentials: provisions of hubing and boiled eggs. Traveling light meant making choices—outer garments and skirts were left behind, taking only undergarments to prevent them from falling into others' hands.
The rest consisted of a pair of silver hairpins, two sets of gauze blouses, and a few dozen copper coins saved by the original owner of her body.
"I've made up my mind. I'll go with you, Sister." Shen Wei bit her lower lip, the taste of blood spreading. After a long pause, she finally uttered these words.
Once spoken, she didn't feel sorrow. Instead, her heart felt light, as if the long-accumulated grievances had dissipated, and the shackles were gone.
Huh… How strange.
Shen Wei wondered why she had never considered the possibility of leaving before.
She grasped Shen Hui's hand, her brows furrowed with tension and worry. "When do we leave? Which way do we go? What if someone finds us? We need a thorough plan."
"Tonight." Shen Hui divided the remaining mutton for Shen Wei, forcing her to eat. "Eat more meat, or you won't make it to Chang'an."
Though called a manor estate, it was actually Prince Chu's villa. He had always despised extravagance and favored simplicity, building some thatched huts and bamboo cottages near the dense forest to occasionally retreat for quiet cultivation, satisfying his craving for mountain seclusion.
Thus, although the manor estate wasn't far from Chang'an city, it was still a night's journey by carriage. Shen Wei was frail, and Shen Hui feared she might collapse halfway.
"So soon… alright, I'll go with you, sister." Shen Wei's simple-mindedness had its advantages; once she trusted someone, she would follow their lead like a fledgling bird.
Night fell, at the fifth quarter of the hour of Xu.
Shen Hui had deliberately chosen this evening.
First, the end of June was approaching, and with the month's end came a flurry of busy tasks. Shen Father and Lady Jiang were too preoccupied to spare any attention. Even when they didn't see the sisters Hui and Wei, they didn't send any young maidservants to look for them.
Second, this day was also the day for going out to purchase supplies.
Although Lady Jiang was in charge of the manor estate's procurement, wielding great authority, where there were those who flattered her, there were also those who despised her. Shen Hui deliberately sought out Granny Duan, who had long disliked Lady Jiang, and gave her a silver hairpin, then took Shen Wei onto the supply cart heading to Chang'an city.
"Isn't this Mother's dowry?" In the cart, Shen Wei looked at the pear blossom silver hairpin, greatly surprised. "Shouldn't it be in Lady Jiang's hands?"
When Lady Xu was married off to Shen Father, the prince's residence bestowed a pair of silver hairpins and three bolts of red diamond-patterned silk. After her passing, all these items were seized by Lady Jiang. The silver hairpins were tucked away at the bottom of a chest, and the fabric was sent to make small jackets.
"Yes, I stole it." Shen Hui munched on the fried dough twist given by Granny Duan, her mouth never stopping.
Fried dough twists, also known as cold food snacks, were similar to fried dough strips. Made by mixing oil into dough and then deep-frying, they were slightly sweet and salty, crispy and fragrant, so crisp that she held one in her hand to eat while catching the crumbs with the other.
Granny Duan helped Shen Hui escape the manor estate, partly for the bribe but mainly to see Lady Jiang suffer a setback. Hearing this, her smile grew even wider: "I brought other snacks too, like peach blossom pastry and chestnut cake. Would you like some?"
Although Great Qi was peaceful and stable, pastries like sugar cake, which required lard, maltose, and seasonal flower juices to make, were still quite expensive. Not to mention ordinary commoners, even Shen Father and Lady Jiang were reluctant to give them away casually.
"Yes, thank you, Granny Duan. Ah Wei, you have some too." At twelve years old, Shen Hui was still growing and had no intention of depriving herself. "Granny, you truly have a bodhisattva's heart. When I see Auntie, I'll be sure to tell her all about your help and great kindness."
"Oh my, such a sweet talker, and so eloquent too, just like your auntie." Granny Duan was delighted by the flattery. "I just felt sorry for you two sisters and wanted to lend a hand. No need for thanks."
Granny Duan had once been a senior maid in Chu Wangfu and had a nodding acquaintance with the sisters' aunt, Madam Xu. Unfortunately, for some unknown reason, she was assigned to work at the manor estate.
She prided herself on having seen better days and looked down on Lady Jiang, while Lady Jiang, jealous of her wealth, suppressed her daily, making them like fire and water.
Thus, when Shen Hui approached her, Granny Duan was more than willing and eager.
Hearing this, Shen Hui feigned surprise: "What a coincidence, you even know Auntie."
The original body had secretly saved up more than just a few dozen copper coins. She had counted them before—nearly two hundred coins. It was truly impressive to have scraped together money from a stepmother like Lady Jiang, and it left her with funds to gather information.
After transmigrating, Shen Hui took advantage of meal deliveries to seek out many of the aunties and ladies in the original body's memory who were not aligned with Lady Jiang. She learned about Granny Duan, this tough nut, and basically figured out her background.
"Your auntie, Madam Xu, is the wet nurse of Third Young Master. Third Young Master lives with the princess consort, so Madam Xu usually only moves around the inner courtyard. I, however, managed the Servants' Kitchen. If she hadn't occasionally come to get food, how could I have been fortunate enough to speak with her?" Granny Duan said with an eager tone.
When Third Young Master was five years old, the legitimate eldest son born to the Princess Consort of Chu, Eldest Young Master, died of a high fever. Prince Chu, pitying his first wife, sent Third Young Master to be raised in the princess consort’s courtyard, and Madam Xu also gained favor by serving at the princess consort’s side.
If she were an ordinary wet nurse, she would be called “mama” or “senior maid,” but Madam Xu was highly valued, and everyone addressed her as “lady.”
“The Servants’ Kitchen? The Chu Wangfu truly lives up to its name. It sounds like there’s more than one kitchen,” Shen Hui inquired casually, picking trivial matters to discuss without delving too deep.
“More than one? There’s one dedicated to cooking for the great prince and the princess consort, another that provides meals for the other masters, and then there’s a small kitchen,” Granny Duan deliberately omitted whose courtyard the small kitchen belonged to.
Shen Hui urgently needed to learn about the internal affairs of the Chu Wangfu. She shook Granny Duan’s arm and cooed, “Granny, why keep me in suspense?”
“Alright, alright, I’ll tell you.” Granny Duan was quite pleased with this attitude, as if she were still the influential senior maid once fawned over by young maidservants. “The small kitchen was specially granted to Consort Zhao by the great prince. The concubine is blessed with good fortune—when I left the residence, she was already over a month pregnant.”
Counting this time, Consort Zhao had been pregnant four times in the twelve years since entering the residence. She had suffered one miscarriage in between but had still given birth to a son and a daughter, an achievement unmatched by anyone else.
“The concubine is truly favored,” Shen Hui said with a bright smile.
If she remembered correctly, this Consort Zhao was a figure of great wisdom who appeared simple-minded, and she, along with the Princess Consort of Chu, lasted until the end.
Granny Duan’s tone grew nostalgic. “Yes, indeed, she is favored. Speaking of which, the concubine’s personal maidservant is from the Shu region and loves the cornelian cherry pickled fish I make.”
Pickled fish, commonly known as salted fish, is made by stuffing raw fish with shredded ginger, cornelian cherry oil, rice wine, and rice, resulting in a pungent and intensely spicy aroma.
Unfortunately, when the city gate caught fire, the fish in the moat suffered. Inadvertently, she was implicated and expelled from the residence. If not for Madam Xu’s intervention, she wouldn’t even have been allowed to stay at the manor estate.
Well, rather than dwelling on regret, it was better to look further ahead.
Granny Duan reined in her thoughts, suppressing her resentment and regret.
“Ah Hui, if your aunt asks where you’d like to be assigned, you might suggest the Beast House.” She had a selfish motive, hoping to curry favor with Madam Xu. “My cousin is the supervisory senior maid of the Beast House. If you work as a young maidservant under her, I’ll ask her to look after you.”
Upon hearing that her sister had a good opportunity, Shen Wei repeatedly signaled Shen Hui with her eyes, urging her to agree.
But Shen Hui remained somewhat cautious.
She didn’t believe in free favors.
Granny Duan had a sharp eye and saw through the temperaments of the Shen sisters.
The elder sister, Ah Hui, appeared gluttonous and naive but was actually probing for private information about the residence with every word. The younger sister, Ah Wei, seemed calm and clever but lacked her own considerations.
Thus, Granny Duan didn’t treat Shen Hui as an ordinary maidservant. She chuckled lightly and said, “I know you’re probably suspicious deep down, thinking that unsolicited kindness must have ulterior motives.”
“Granny, you flatter me,” Shen Hui replied. Seeing that Granny Duan was speaking frankly, she no longer hid her thoughts. “But aside from our aunt, my sister and I have no one to rely on. If we aren’t cautious, we might have been killed by Lady Jiang long ago.”
“True, but when I mention the Beast House assignment, it’s a win-win situation.” Granny Duan was also clever, leaving it at that.
If this young maidservant trusted her, she would surely mention it to Madam Xu—after all, a young maidservant should listen to her aunt’s advice. If she didn’t trust her, it was simply a matter of fate.
Shen Hui nodded obediently and took note.
The carriage raced through the night, nearly making Shen Hui carsick from the jolting, before finally arriving in Chang’an.
After entering the city through Jinguang Gate, the West Market came into view just a few steps ahead.
Willow trees lining the main road were lush with green leaves, and the canal meandered through the mercy-release pond inside. Inside and outside the ward gate, merchants and travelers came and went in an endless stream, including barbarians leading camels and bold young ladies who dared to expose their faces and arms.
The customs of Great Qi were relatively open, not prohibiting women from walking the streets alone. Moreover, Granny Duan, Shen Hui, and Shen Wei were servants, so they did not need to consider etiquette like noble young ladies and wear veiled hats.
Thus, Shen Hui pulled Shen Wei and directly jumped off the carriage, stretching their stiff limbs.
"Chu Wangfu is in Chongren Ward. Go straight and then turn right—it’s very easy to find." Of course, Granny Duan was not the only one out for shopping. Apart from the carriage she rode alone, there were five more behind, unable to take them further. "If you can’t even navigate the main roads outside, how will you manage the small paths and corridors in the rear courtyard of Chu Wangfu? It’s up to your own fortune now."
"Yes, thank you for your guidance, Granny." Though the words were unpleasant, they held truth. Shen Hui gave a slight bow.
Fortunately, the original owner had been to Chang’an before.
In the first month of the year before last, Madam Xu had invited her nieces to the capital for a short stay. After celebrating Shen Hui’s birthday, they waited until the second day of the second month, received the "welcoming wealth and nobility" fruits bestowed by the prince’s residence, and then sent the two sisters home.
Following her memories, Shen Hui led Shen Wei for most of the day. After entering Chongren Ward, they headed straight for the side gate of the servants’ courtyard at Chu Wangfu.