Before they could approach, the old woman guarding the side gate immediately called out sharply, "Halt! This is Chu Wangfu. Idlers, step back at once."
"Who are you two? How dare you linger near the prince's residence?" No sooner had the old woman spoken than a maidservant about to step over the threshold looked over, pointing at Shen Hui and waving her hand. "You, young lady, look clever enough, so why do such a foolish thing? Go on, go on, leave quickly."
The maidservant was quite lovely, not much older than the two sisters. She wore a pale pink gauze blouse embroidered with spring peach blossoms, paired with a white silk skirt and a lotus-root-colored half-sleeved outer garment. The silk flowers pinned in her hair were lifelike.
She was clearly no ordinary young maidservant.
Seeing this, Shen Hui first curtsied in thanks, her attitude humble and respectful. "I've just arrived in the capital and don't know the rules. I nearly made a grave mistake. Thank you, sister, for the reminder.
Hello, sister. My name is Shen Hui. Madam Xu, the wet nurse serving Third Young Master, is my aunt. May I trouble you to pass on a message, saying that my younger sister A Wei and I have come to the capital to look for her?"
She immediately mentioned her aunt, Madam Xu.
"Really?" Hearing that she was Madam Xu's niece, the pink-clad maidservant's stern expression softened slightly. She stared at Shen Hui and took a few steps closer.
"Of course it's true. If I speak even half a lie, may my father meet a terrible end, struck by lightning from the heavens." Shen Hui met her gaze firmly, raising three fingers.
Although this was indeed not a lie, she didn't swear on herself.
"Oh, it's you. I think you came the year before last, didn't you? The timing is unfortunate now—Madam Xu is currently on duty, accompanying Third Young Master and the princess consort for the evening meal." The maidservant was clearly familiar with Madam Xu. Her eyes rolled a few times, and she made as if to lead Shen Hui away. "Well then, let's go to South Qu and wait for her at Madam Xu's home."
Chang'an city was divided into over one hundred wards, each containing a cross street that divided it into North, West, South, and East Qu based on direction. Within each Qu were cross lanes, separating the residences.
"Thank you, sister." Shen Hui curtsied again but then said, "But forgive my boldness, sister, might you have remembered the location incorrectly? My aunt's home should be in North Qu of Chongren Ward."
This maidservant was being cautious, deliberately testing her identity.
Indeed, everyone in the prince's residence was shrewd.
"Ah, look at me—I remembered wrong." Hearing that Shen Hui's identity was likely genuine, the maidservant immediately became more enthusiastic. "You're not in the prince's residence, so how would you know there are so many festival rules here? With the Qiqiao Festival just ten days away, we're so busy we're dizzy, how could I remember other things?"
"May I ask which noble lady you serve, sister?" Seeing her intention to boast, Shen Hui quickly asked.
"My name is Chun Tao, and I serve the princess consort. But I'm young, only fifteen this year, and I'm just a second-rank maid." Chun Tao lived up to her name, smiling as brightly and joyfully as peach blossoms.
She led the two sisters into North Qu and found the small residence.
A young maidservant sitting on the stone steps at the entrance to the residence hurriedly stood up and bowed upon seeing Chun Tao. "Sister Chun Tao is here, please come in."
"Mhm, go find your Sister Qing'er. Tell her these two younger sisters have come to the capital looking for someone and call Madam Xu their aunt." Chun Tao had visited many times and didn't stand on ceremony. After instructing the young maidservant, she familiarly entered, passing through the front courtyard.
Qing'er was Madam Xu's trusted aide, often coming to help manage the residence.
In the rear courtyard stood a parasol tree, under which a canopy was set up. Beneath it was a wooden couch spread with a bamboo mat, holding a porcelain pillow, a small table, and an incense burner with mugwort for repelling insects, providing a comfortable spot for rest and cooling off.
Other servants who handled miscellaneous tasks promptly came to serve tea and set out a plate of salt-fried phoenix tree seeds as a snack.
Shen Hui carefully observed the young maidservants here. Though they were not adorned with gold and silver, each was neat in appearance and well-mannered, with hair coiled into glossy black buns tied with red silk ribbons at the temples and satin pouches hanging from their waists.
If even the wet nurse’s household was like this, one could only imagine how luxurious the Chu Wangfu must be.
“Qing’er is having her meal at the moment. You’ll have to wait a bit—please, sit.” Chun Tao leaned against the daybed, tilting her chin slightly.
Shen Hui shook her head and declined politely. “I dare not. You are usually a guest of my aunt, but I am here as a junior paying a visit. It wouldn’t be proper for me to presume.”
“What about you?” Chun Tao then asked Shen Wei.
“I’ll follow my elder sister’s lead,” Shen Wei replied timidly, struggling to keep her voice steady as she suppressed her nervousness.
Seeing that both sisters were cautious and well-mannered, Chun Tao grew somewhat fond of them.
“Don’t be so reserved. Madam Xu is kind and generous—everyone in the princess consort’s courtyard enjoys her company, and Qing’er by her side is also very gentle.” After saying this, Chun Tao lowered her voice. “So, if you’ve suffered any grievances, feel free to speak up. She is your aunt, after all, and will surely side with her own nieces.”
One of Chun Tao’s few hobbies was gathering idle gossip, and she was well-informed. Naturally, she knew of Shen Father and Lady Jiang’s misdeeds. Though she had a quick temper, she was also righteous and forthright, and she wanted to help Shen Hui.
“What you say makes sense, sister. We came this time because… ah…” Shen Hui pretended to sigh softly twice, feigning great distress. She shook her handkerchief and dabbed at the corner of her eye, every gesture a performance. “Please forgive my embarrassment.”
Though Chun Tao loved to hear gossip, she still had to maintain propriety. She comforted her, saying, “Good sister, I understand your pain, but family matters should not be aired in public. You needn’t tell me—save it for your aunt.”
“You’re already calling each other sisters? How affectionate.” Moments later, a young woman with her hair styled in a lily bun walked in from the corridor. She had a plump figure and was dressed simply, wearing a green silk blouse and a matching gauze skirt, like a phoenix tree leaf fluttering in the wind. Smiling warmly, she took Shen Hui and Shen Wei’s hands directly. “Do you remember me? I’m your Qing’er sister.”
As the wet nurse of the Third Young Master, Madam Xu rarely had free time. Her husband, who managed an external shop, was often away from home, so the household was largely managed by Qing’er, who oversaw the young maidservants.
When they had visited Chang’an for the festival the year before last, Qing’er had spent half the time taking the sisters out to sightsee.
“Of course we remember.” Shen Hui led Shen Wei in a bow. “My sister and I have come to the capital abruptly, and we must seem ridiculous to you and our aunt, but we had no choice.”
Seeing that Shen Hui seemed to have something to say, Chun Tao immediately stood up and nodded to Qing’er. “I should go now. If I stay any longer, people will talk.”
“Take care, sister, and thank you for bringing them here.” Qing’er accompanied her to the rear courtyard gate.
Once there were no outsiders around, Qing’er gestured for Shen Hui and Shen Wei to enter the main hall and dismissed the two young maidservants who had followed them.
Since this was Madam Xu’s residence, Qing’er did not take the seat of honor. Instead, she led them through the main hall to a narrow daybed behind a screen to talk. The narrow daybed was placed horizontally beside a latticed window, its paper clean and soft, allowing warm, bright light to filter through and illuminate the large walnut desk opposite. To the left of the desk hung a silver-red curtain embroidered with clusters of peonies, separating the sleeping quarters.
“Ah Hui, speak now.” Qing’er took Shen Hui’s hand, discreetly observing her, her heart sinking.
She had grown thinner than before and was dressed poorly, her coarse cloth garments washed to the point of fading, with a patch sewn at the elbow, and her skirt was even pieced together from scraps.
She knew A Hui's temperament—sharp, competitive, and full of petty schemes—yet even someone like her had been treated so harshly by her stepmother, Lady Jiang. No wonder her younger sister, A Wei, was as thin as a withered bamboo pole.
This dynasty favored plumpness, and seeing the little bean sprout Shen Wei so emaciated that she was almost unrecognizable, Qing'er truly felt heartache.
However, recalling those letters of refusal, she felt a slight suspicion.
Didn't A Hui not want to come to Chang'an before? Why the sudden change of heart?
Shen Hui pretended not to notice the scrutiny and said with a choked voice, "Sister Qing'er, my sister and I truly can't hold on any longer. I recently suffered from heatstroke, and Lady Jiang refused to let me see a doctor, only making me drink talisman water. It was only after I begged someone to fetch medicine that I finally got to drink herbal decoction. Herbal medicine is expensive, and the money I saved gradually ran out. I borrowed everywhere, but in the end, a kind-hearted granny told me that Lady Jiang had been withholding my sister's and my monthly allowance all along… Sister, my heart aches so much."
Dry sobbing naturally wouldn't produce tears, but she had smeared diluted ginger juice on her sleeve, which stung her eyes, causing tears to stream down.
Her words were half-truths and half-lies.
Lady Jiang was indeed harsh, but she wouldn't dare mistreat Shen Hui openly. When she learned Shen Hui was ill, she immediately spent money to find someone to treat her.
Unfortunately, Lady Jiang was a true native of Great Qi. In an era where even the Imperial Medical Bureau employed incantation and prohibition masters, many commoners trusted sorcerers over physicians. Thus, Lady Jiang invited a sorcerer who first drew talismans and then made Shen Hui drink talisman water, making her feel as though she could see her former self beckoning to her.
"Little sister, why must you suffer like this?" Qing'er wiped her tears. "If only we had known earlier, you should have come to Chang'an long ago."
"Come to Chang'an?" Shen Hui sniffled, biting her lower lip. "Two years ago, I only met Auntie twice. I was afraid of troubling her and didn't dare ask. Usually, Father is strict, and Auntie never mentioned it, so how could I dare come? If it weren't for the kind-hearted Granny Duan this time, I might have fallen ill and died in the manor estate."
"That's not right. Madam Xu wrote letters to you, and you replied," Qing'er frowned upon hearing this. "Could it be that those replies weren't written by you?"
"It was… Father who made me write them," Shen Wei answered softly.
Shen Hui was competitive and had taken the opportunity to learn a few characters while helping Lady Jiang copy account books and rosters. She then taught them to Shen Wei, so their handwriting was quite similar.
"So that's how it was," Qing'er said with a resentful expression, spitting in disdain. "I thought it was strange. You two children were so close to Madam Xu, how could you repeatedly refuse her? It's just that Madam Xu and I were usually busy, and you were so far away, so we couldn't visit in person. Otherwise, how could Lady Jiang have kept this hidden? Don't worry, I will definitely inform Madam Xu and ask her to take charge."
Qing'er's indignation was also partly for Shen Hui and Shen Wei's benefit.
Madam Xu was willing to look after her nieces, but due to Shen Father and Lady Jiang's interference, many misunderstandings had arisen, causing her to gradually grow cold-hearted and stop mentioning the matter for a long time.
As her confidante, Qing'er naturally sensed her change in attitude but couldn't show it in front of the sisters.
With that, Qing'er immediately sent a young maidservant to deliver a message to Madam Xu.
Shen Hui covered her face and cried, sobbing uncontrollably. "Thank you, Sister Qing'er."
To save money, she had bought unwanted old ginger. Old ginger was indeed spicier, and even diluted, it stung her eyes unbearably.
Qing'er had someone fetch water and handed her a plain handkerchief for washing her face. "A Hui, crying too much harms the body."
"Yes, I won't cry anymore, so as not to worry my sister." Shen Hui hurriedly went to wash her face.
After washing her face, a young maidservant brought two teacups.
"This is the dark plum spleen-reducing drink, to help both of you relieve the summer heat. Dinner is already prepared and set in the back wing room." Qing'er finally shifted her gaze away from Shen Hui, turning instead to gently squeeze Shen Wei's hand. "Ah, A Wei, you're only a year younger than your sister, yet you're so thin and frail. Lady Jiang is truly too much, not even letting you eat your fill."
"…It's because I eat little myself." Even though Shen Wei had mustered the courage to follow Shen Hui to Chang'an, she couldn't easily shed her timid nature.
"At the manor estate, you couldn't get good food, so naturally you had no appetite. From now on, you must eat more." Shen Hui drank the sweet, sour, and cool dark plum spleen-reducing drink in one gulp. Feeling that since they had come, and she still hoped to use her aunt's connections to enter the prince's residence, there was no need to remain reserved. She gracefully gave a slight curtsy to Qing'er. "Sister, you are very thoughtful. I am indeed hungry."
"Then hurry and eat." Qing'er led her and Shen Wei toward the back of the main hall.
Behind it were three wing rooms and two side chambers. The wing room on the left was slightly more spacious, with a square table and crescent-shaped stools in the center. At both ends were wooden beds, dressing tables, and low cabinets, with pale yellow gauze curtains and paired incense stands outside. Two years ago, Shen Hui and Shen Wei had stayed here.
On the square table were five dishes and one soup: Soft-Fried Chicken, Stir-Fried Chicken Gizzards with Pickled Ginger, Sliced Roasted Lamb Leg, Cold Tossed Alfalfa Sprouts, Stir-Fried Song Vegetable, and Spinach Egg Soup. There was no time to steam rice, so the staple remained hubing (barbarian cake/bread).
The current song vegetable had not yet evolved into the shape of Chinese cabbage; instead, it was wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, green and crisp. Stir-fried with small garlic, it was rich in garlic flavor and extremely tasty.
As for spinach, it was called boleng vegetable, and since it was not a local seasonal vegetable, it was not cheap. Shen Hui remembered one time when Lady Jiang bought some wilted leaves to mix and eat, treating them as precious.
Since the meal was prepared for two, the portions were not large, just enough for Shen Hui to eat two pieces of hubing and drink two bowls of soup to fill the gaps. In contrast, Shen Wei had only managed to finish half a piece of hubing in small bites before feeling uncomfortably full.
Having been sisters for a long time, and since Shen Wei ate properly, Shen Hui didn't mind her leftovers and simply took the remaining half piece.
"You eat like a little bird pecking at food," she couldn't help but whisper to her.
Shen Wei pursed her lips. "There's no helping it. If I eat too much, my stomach feels uncomfortable, and it's very easy to get indigestion."
"I heard A Hui and A Wei have arrived. Where are they?"
Another half-hour later, an anxious voice reached Shen Hui's ears.
It was Madam Xu.