The early autumn drizzle fell in a fine mist, dense droplets scattering across the sky, casting a hazy, shadowy green over the courtyard’s banana leaves.
Consort Zheng leaned against a plain silk pillow, quietly listening to the rain tapping against the window lattice. Her breathing was faint and intermittent, making her cheeks appear increasingly pale as snow.
Suddenly, a wave of itchiness spread through her lungs, and she coughed violently several times, her hair becoming disheveled and the silver-gilded white jade hairpin adorned with playful butterflies teetering precariously.
A few specks of blood stained the handkerchief.
Her dowry maid, Nanny Guan, swiftly took the handkerchief away.
“Let me see it.” But Consort Zheng insisted, taking the handkerchief and unfolding it. The dark red color pierced her eyes, turning her sorrow into a silent sigh.
Nanny Guan was her wet nurse, who cherished her like a daughter. With a pained heart, she said, “Consort, your health has deteriorated to this point. Why continue to hide it? It would be better to report it to the Princess Consort as soon as possible and request a royal physician for treatment.”
“I know my own body well. Illness is like pulling silk—it comes and goes, never truly improving. It’s better not to let others know. Once my weakness is exposed, Consort Cui will immediately pounce.” Consort Zheng took a deep breath. Though her body was frail, her eyes held a resolute determination as she calmly folded the handkerchief. “Besides, if I go into seclusion to recuperate, I’ll have to send Little Fourth to the front courtyard to be raised. He’s only six years old—how could I rest easy?”
Consort Zheng was by nature reserved and aloof. After entering the mansion, she received little favor. When she finally became pregnant, her condition was unstable. To safely deliver her child, she was forced to take labor-inducing medicine, giving birth to the Fourth Young Master but leaving her with lingering ailments.
“When you drank medicine before, you always chose mild and balanced tonics. But now, the medicine you’re taking is all potent and harmful to your body.” Nanny Guan tried to help her lie down.
“Just instruct someone to properly dispose of the medicine dregs. As for the rest, say no more.” Consort Zheng shook her head. “How is your goddaughter progressing? Has she managed to persuade Aunt Duan?”
Her intention to win over Aunt Duan was not for petty scheming but to secure a reliable person for the Fourth Young Master, in case her illness worsened and Consort Cui sought to harm her son.
“Not yet. You know Aunt Duan’s temperament. Even though you’ve condescended to recruit her, she remains unmoved by both soft and hard approaches. How could a mere maid persuade her?” Nanny Guan said with frustration.
“Truly someone who came from the palace, as unyielding as Tian Nüshi.” Consort Zheng instructed Nanny Guan to open the jewelry box and retrieve a hidden secret letter. “Forget it. My time is limited. Don’t waste any more effort on her. I have a letter here. Find a trustworthy confidant and have her deliver it to the Zheng residence. Make sure it’s handed directly to my grandfather.”
Consort Zheng’s mind was solely occupied with paving the way for the Fourth Young Master. In her momentary oversight, she failed to notice the Princess Consort of Chu’s control over the rear courtyard.
“Princess Consort, Chun Tao says…” Less than an hour after the maid sent to deliver the letter left the mansion, Bihe received the news.
“Is this true?” In the main hall, sandalwood incense wafted faintly, blurring the inscrutable darkness in the Princess Consort of Chu’s eyes.
“It cannot be false. Chun Tao, fearing mistakes, questioned more than one of the old women guarding the side gate. Upon hearing of this, she immediately left on the pretext of visiting her father. Though she didn’t catch up, she personally saw the suspicious maid heading toward the Zheng residence, not the East Market as originally intended.” Bihe summarized the matter concisely.
The Zheng residence was located in Buzheng Fang, in the western part of Chang’an city, while the East Market was in the east—two completely different directions.
The Princess Consort of Chu slowly sipped her clear tea, a meaningful smile forming at the corner of her lips. “Consorts and concubines are not permitted to contact their maternal families without prior reporting. For Consort Zheng to take such a great risk—the reason behind it is truly intriguing.”
"She wants to retaliate?" Bihe could only think of the most obvious layer.
"Consort Zheng and Consort Cui have been at odds for a long time, scheming openly and covertly, back and forth. If it were merely ordinary retaliation, she wouldn’t need to send someone back to the manor." But Princess Consort of Chu’s smile gradually turned hesitant. After pondering for a while, a speculation arose in her mind. "Go and check on Consort Zheng’s health."
"Princess Consort, Third Young Master has returned." A maidservant from the corridor announced.
Princess Consort of Chu calmly concealed her hesitation. She adjusted her sleeves and, in the blink of an eye, resumed her gentle and dignified demeanor.
"Greetings, Mother." Third Young Master bowed with clasped hands.
"Did you attend to His Majesty’s care when you entered the palace today?" Princess Consort of Chu asked kindly, brushing raindrops from his shoulder.
Third Young Master sat upright. "I accompanied Father. His Majesty’s spirits have improved compared to the past few days. After the midday meal, he even reviewed memorials for half a shichen. While in the palace, I also met Aunt Jinkang. Aunt said to please bring my siblings and me often to play with our cousins. As Consort Cui mentioned, it’s livelier when the children gather together."
The aunt he spoke of was Eldest Princess Jinkang, born of the same mother as Prince Chu, both children of Empress Xue. Her Imperial Son-in-Law was General Wuwei, and they had two sons and a daughter.
The two sons were older—the eldest had just married, and the second was already betrothed. The daughter was slightly younger, about to turn fifteen, the same age as the Second Young Master raised by Consort Cui.
"Indeed, but diligence leads to mastery, while idleness leads to neglect. Balancing work and rest is the proper way." Princess Consort of Chu smiled, gently patting Third Young Master’s head. "But I know you enjoy riding with Eldest Princess Jinkang’s second son. After you finish your studies the day after tomorrow, you may go."
"Thank you, Mother. I should go practice calligraphy now." Third Young Master sat a while longer before taking his leave.
Once he left, Princess Consort of Chu’s expression darkened as she spoke to Bihe. "Go to the front courtyard and ask if the great prince will return from the palace to the manor tomorrow."
Since smelling the medicinal scent, Shen Hui’s thoughts had wandered, and after tossing and turning half the night, she began to suffer from insomnia. By the next morning during breakfast, she felt as if she were sleepwalking.
Breakfast was chess-piece noodles with minced meat and mallow greens. As the name suggested, these noodles were the size of chess pieces, extremely durable, and could be stored for up to ten days after one preparation. However, their texture was somewhat tough and not particularly tasty.
Fortunately, Shen Wei sent over some Flour-Fried Bones sprinkled with pepper. Though the portion was small, it was better than nothing.
After struggling through the meal, Shen Hui remembered that Aunt Duan wanted to see her. Startled, she immediately snapped awake, feeling as if she had been summoned to the teacher’s office.
In the side room on the second floor of the small building, Aunt Duan was teasing a lynx with a wooden stick. Seeing Shen Hui peeking in from outside the door, she waved her hand. "Come in and sit. You and Jinyun get along well? That’s quite bold. When they first arrived at the Beast House, many young maidservants were so frightened they couldn’t sleep at night, afraid Jinyun would break out and eat someone."
"I was scared at first too, but Jinyun truly lives up to being a gift from the Eldest Princess—extremely intelligent and unlike ordinary wild beasts." Shen Hui answered honestly.
"In comparison, these lynxes are quite mischievous." Aunt Duan agreed, handing the wooden stick to Shen Hui. "You try."
Lynxes were Small Animals specifically used for hunting and had not been tamed to curb their wild instincts, making them indeed fiercer than Jinyun.
"Ah?" Shen Hui trembled as she took the stick. Immediately, the lynxes made as if to pounce on her, and she hurriedly dodged in fright. "Ah…!"
"Stay still, sit down." Aunt Duan grabbed another stick and struck out, the sound cutting through the air like a whip.
The lynxes were cowed and obediently crouched down.
“Senior maid, you truly excel at taming beasts.” Shen Hui stepped out from behind Aunt Duan, still shaken with lingering fear.
Aunt Duan glanced at her. “Where is the excellence? They merely saw you as young and easy to bully, so they swarmed you—clearly, they prey on the weak. And you, aside from dodging, showed fear on your face, only fueling their aggression.”
“Yes, this servant will improve.” Shen Hui understood the underlying message.
This was likely a lesson in managing people.
“How will you improve? By fighting back?” Aunt Duan countered. “You are but one person, while they are many. Two fists cannot defeat four hands—can you win? If you stop at moderation, these senseless beasts will never learn their lesson. If you resort to killing, it would be cruel and bloody, disregarding the wangfu’s rules, and you would surely be punished.”
Listening to her serious tone, Shen Hui felt as if she were back in a university defense, her palms sweating. After careful consideration, she said, “So, one must strike a blow and then offer a sweet reward.”
“You do know how to summarize—crude in wording but not in reasoning.” Aunt Duan showed approval. “Yes, this is called balancing kindness with authority.”
“This servant has learned.” Shen Hui breathed a sigh of relief.
Yet the next moment, Aunt Duan’s words made Shen Hui tense up again.
“Madam Xu told me you can write and remember passages from classical texts. These are your strengths, and you should hold onto them.” Aunt Duan pointed to a wooden box containing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone. “Mastering one skill is better than dabbling in a hundred. From now on, you must diligently study this path.”
“This is for me?” Shen Hui couldn’t believe it.
“Yes. Copy texts and practice calligraphy for two hours daily. I will check your work.” Aunt Duan intended to teach Shen Hui step by step.
Though Shen Hui had a thousand reasons to resist inwardly, she dared not show it. “Yes.”
No, why did something as evil as homework appear in her lazy life?!
With a smiling face but a weeping heart, Shen Hui carried the wooden box downstairs.
Just then, she encountered Shiwu returning to her room. The other girl hurried past, bumping directly into Shen Hui.
It was the smell of medicine…
Shen Hui, being sturdy, didn’t feel hurt by the collision. Instead, she sniffed the air.
The medicinal scent on Shiwu was quite similar to what she had smelled yesterday.
“Do you know where Shiwu just went?” After placing the wooden box in her room, Shen Hui beckoned to the young maidservant who often followed Shiwu.
Coincidentally, this maidservant was the one Shen Hui had reprimanded earlier.
“Do you want some candy?” Shen Hui casually took out a piece of candy, popped it into her mouth, and crunched loudly.
“N-not really.” The young maidservant, afraid Shen Hui might grab her collar again, averted her eyes but couldn’t help craving the treat.
“Then I won’t give you any.” Shen Hui continued eating the candy on her own and raised her hand to close the door.
Hearing this, the young maidservant panicked and softened her tone. “I do, Sister Ah Hui. Please be magnanimous and forget my earlier disrespect. My name is Liu’er. I was bought into the mansion together with Qi’er. If you need anything purchased, just order me. My foster mother is the gatekeeper, so I can leave the mansion without spending money.”
Young maidservants bought from outside often had such casual names.
Shen Hui pulled her into the room. “Answer my questions truthfully, and I’ll give you some. Do you know what Shiwu was doing just now?”
“Yes, yes. Sister Shiwu was supervising me and the other young maidservants while we handled waste.” Liu’er replied immediately. “She never used to supervise before.”
“When did she start supervising?” Shen Hui continued.
Liu’er thought for a moment, counting on her fingers. “About half a month ago.”
"Alright, have some candy." Seeing she didn't seem to be faking it, Shen Hui tossed her two pieces of brown sugar, then immediately put on a stern face. "Keep your mouth shut about this. If you say a word, I'll send Jinyun to eat you in the middle of the night."