Spring, the nineteenth year of the Jingyou era.
After days of overcast skies, the sun finally broke through the clouds above Bianjing, revealing a vast expanse of clear blue sky stretching as far as the eye could see.
The capital was bustling with excitement. To say that the entire city had turned out would hardly be an exaggeration. With even the heavens smiling upon them, the people exclaimed, “Heaven itself must be showing its favor! It’s just as eager as we are to welcome our heroes home in triumph!”
The streets were packed with commoners on both sides, their faces flushed with excitement as they craned their necks toward the city gates.
Last winter, Pei Heng, heir to the Marquis of Zhongyong, had led a great army through Ji and Tan Prefectures, sweeping aside the enemy and crushing the foreign invaders.
With that victory, all Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun had finally been restored to Great Zhou territory. The realm was whole once more. A century-old affliction dating back to the founding of the dynasty by Emperor Taizu had at last been cured, and the humiliation of the past swept away.
To perform the rites of victory at Mount Langjuxu and reclaim the lost mountains and rivers—such accomplishments would be recorded forever in the annals of Great Zhou.
Now, as spring breezes stirred and the last of the snow and ice melted away, Pei Heng, newly invested as the Marquis of Wu’an, was returning at the head of his victorious army.
Crowds surged through Bianjing. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the celebrated Marquis of Wu’an.
As early as three months ago, places in the restaurants and teahouses lining the Imperial Avenue had become almost impossible to secure. Forget obtaining an elegant private room with a window—even the most ordinary little corner was worth a fortune.
Inside Fengle Tower, the manager wore a troubled expression.
“Please forgive me, Young Lady Shen. This humble one would never dare slight the Earl’s household. It’s just that the young lady of Chancellor Lin’s family… Ah, I was foolish. I—I made a terrible mistake!”
Manager Zhang was inwardly wailing.
When immortals fought, it was the little people who suffered!
Chancellor Lin was the emperor’s own teacher. How could someone like him afford to offend such a man?
Yet the Earl of Wenchang’s household was hardly one to be trifled with either.
All he could do was force a smile and plead, “I’m merely someone who follows orders. Young ladies, please have a little consideration for these old bones of mine.”
At his words, Shen Lingying’s delicate brows shot up. She immediately stepped forward.
“Hmph! So you’re merely following orders, are you? Manager, we paid a deposit and reserved Qingfeng Pavilion three months ago. We have the agreement in black and white. Surely you don’t intend to deny it?”
“Don’t think you can intimidate us by invoking Chancellor Lin’s name! Does the law no longer mean anything in Bianjing?”
Her voice grew louder as she spoke.
“Is that young lady of the Lin family using Chancellor Lin’s influence to bully those weaker than herself?”
“Hah! Our Earl of Wenchang’s household isn’t the sort to let people trample all over us!”
Shen Lingxiang, her hair arranged in two childish buns, was still only a little girl. Her fair, adorable cheeks quivered with indignation as she poked half her head out from behind her third elder sister and glared at the manager.
“Exactly! We’re not so easily bullied either!”
Shen Lingmiao stood quietly beside a folding screen.
She wore a lotus-pink, front-opening beizi jacket, with a pale, cross-collared, narrow-sleeved short coat layered over it. Of all the sisters, she was undoubtedly the most generously bundled up.
Her expression remained composed, a faint smile playing at her lips.
“Manager, since Miss Lin wishes to use the room, our household is not entirely unreasonable. However, you must at least find us another spacious private room with a window.”
“Why should we?”
Shen Lingying was about to argue further when Shen Lingling gently tugged at her sleeve.
“Third Sister,” she murmured.
Shen Lingying reluctantly fell silent and turned her head away, clearly still seething.
At Shen Lingmiao’s request, beads of sweat sprang up across the manager’s forehead, rolling down in large drops.
Fengle Tower was more than fully booked today. Even the smallest available spaces had been claimed.
Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he said miserably, “Young ladies, I truly am not trying to make excuses. There isn’t so much as half an inch of empty space left in the entire building!”
The smile on Shen Lingmiao’s lips froze.
She was just about to speak when a waiter hurried downstairs and leaned close to whisper a few words in the manager’s ear.
Following behind the waiter was a well-dressed maid.
She wore a short jacket embroidered with a hundred butterflies in silver thread, paired with a pleated skirt of fresh scallion green. Her hair was arranged in a single luo bun. Though she was only a servant, she looked even more refined and presentable than the daughters of many modest households.
“Caiwei?”
Shen Lingmiao recognized her immediately, delight lighting up her face.
“Caiwei, what are you doing here? Is Huizhen upstairs? When did you return to Bianjing?”
Caiwei smiled and greeted the young ladies properly before answering Shen Lingmiao with easy familiarity.
“Lady Shen, you’ve asked so many questions at once that this servant hardly knows which to answer first!”
She laughed again.
“My mistress, the County Lady, only arrived in Bianjing yesterday. She’s upstairs right now and has sent me to invite Lady Shen up for a chat.”
Caiwei then turned toward the manager, her expression changing abruptly.
With the imposing dignity of a senior maid from a prince’s residence, she straightened her back and fixed him with such a commanding gaze that he scarcely dared breathe.
“Manager!” she snapped coldly. “There are rules to conducting business, and one of them is first come, first served. You know perfectly well who reserved that room. You cannot afford to offend Chancellor Lin’s household, but does that mean you can afford to offend the Earl of Wenchang’s?”
“If word of today’s incident reaches the County Lady, how many more days do you think Fengle Tower will be allowed to keep its sign hanging in Bianjing?”
Of course, that last remark was merely intended to frighten him.
Nevertheless, Manager Zhang turned ashen. Cold sweat poured down his forehead as he hurriedly bowed, bending so low his back was nearly horizontal.
“This humble one knows his mistake! I lost my senses! I don’t know what possessed me! I’ll apologize to the young ladies at once!”
Standing to one side, Shen Lingying gave a loud, contemptuous snort.
How infuriating!
The manager claimed that he hadn’t known what possessed him, but who couldn’t see the real reason?
He was simply taking advantage of the fact that the young ladies from the Earl of Wenchang’s household who had come today were all concubine-born daughters whose positions within the family were far from secure.
If they made a scene, they would only tarnish their own household’s reputation.
Had the Shen family’s Second Young Lady, Shen Linglan, been here today, Manager Zhang would never have dared hand over Qingfeng Pavilion to Miss Lin—not even if someone had given him ten times the courage.
Shen Lingmiao understood this perfectly well.
Even if they caused an uproar, it would ultimately be the Earl of Wenchang’s household that lost face.
So she turned to Caiwei.
“Never mind. Hurry and take me to see your mistress. It’s been half a year since we last met. I was beginning to think she’d tossed me right out of her mind.”
At once, Caiwei’s imposing demeanor dissolved into a smile.
Pretending to be terribly alarmed, she exclaimed, “How can Lady Shen say such a thing? You’ve wronged my mistress terribly! Our County Lady has been thinking of you constantly. Even if we hadn’t happened upon you here today, she was planning to send you a letter once today’s festivities were over.”
“Caiwei, are you quite certain I’m the one your mistress has been thinking about?”
Shen Lingmiao burst into laughter.
As she spoke, she naturally reached a hand behind her.
The Fourth Young Lady, Shen Lingling, just as naturally took her eldest sister’s outstretched hand.
She smiled and asked, “Caiwei, has Sister Huizhen been well?”
Shen Lingxiang tugged at her third sister’s sleeve, signaling for her to follow.
Shen Lingying reluctantly started walking, her face still gloomy.
She muttered under her breath, “If Second Sister had been here today, that manager would never have dared treat us so disrespectfully. And she certainly wouldn’t have let him off so easily.”
Although Shen Lingxiang was young, she understood the implications well enough.
“Third Sister, mind your words!”
She glanced ahead. There was some distance between them and their eldest and fourth sisters, so she lowered her voice and advised, “If we hadn’t benefited from Eldest Sister’s friendship with the County Lady, we’d probably already be on our way home.”
Besides, if Second Sister hadn’t been at odds with Miss Lin in the past, why would Miss Lin keep targeting them time and again?
Hearing this, Shen Lingying felt her anger lodge painfully in her chest.
She clenched her handkerchief tightly.
Those snobbish wretches!
Sooner or later, she would make them pay!
After only a few more exchanges, they arrived at Mingyue Pavilion.
On the way, they passed Qingfeng Pavilion and encountered the maids and older serving women stationed outside by the Lin family.
Shen Lingying couldn’t restrain herself. She was just about to step forward and demand an explanation when she saw her eldest sister suddenly stop.
With a radiant smile, Shen Lingmiao addressed the senior serving woman.
“What excellent family upbringing Chancellor Lin’s household possesses. We daughters of the Shen family have certainly received a valuable lesson today.”
No sooner had she spoken than Shen Lingling, standing beside her, added with a smile, “My eldest sister is quite right. When we return, we shall be sure to inform Father and Mother. We must choose a suitable day to visit and thank Lady Lin for her extraordinary generosity and invaluable instruction.”
Before the maids and serving women could react, Shen Lingmiao took her younger sister’s hand, turned back to her conversation with Caiwei, and walked straight past them.
Shen Lingying and Shen Lingxiang, following behind, couldn’t help giggling.
As they passed the room, Shen Lingying raised her voice toward the closed door.
“What impeccable manners Lady Lin has! Thank you so much for your generous instruction today, Sister Lin. This younger sister has learned a great deal!”
Shen Lingxiang followed close behind, nodding like a chick pecking at grain.
“Exactly! Exactly!”
Before her words had even faded, a sharp crash rang out from inside the room.
Porcelain shattered against the floor.
Shen Lingying immediately stopped in her tracks.
A charming smile spread across her face as she called through the door with exaggerated concern.
“Whatever happened? Lady Lin, did some clumsy, careless maid break a teacup?”
A moment later, a voice emerged, struggling to suppress its fury.
“There is no need for Third Young Lady Shen to concern herself.”
At this, Shen Lingying turned to the cluster of maids and serving women outside.
“Judging by her tone, your mistress must have been suffering from an excess of internal heat lately. Hurry and ask a waiter to bring her a pot of bitter kuding tea to cool her temper.”
From inside came Lin Qingyao’s furious shout.
“Are you all going to stand out there? Get in here!”
Shen Lingying immediately called, “Sister Lin, don’t let the bitterness put you off! It’s best to cool that internal heat before it gets any worse.”
Shen Lingxiang chimed in, “Exactly, exactly! Don’t let our good intentions go to waste!”
The maids and serving women hurried inside and shut the door, cutting off the voices outside.
Shen Lingying was now in an excellent mood.
She quickened her steps to catch up with her eldest sister and even felt inclined to tease Shen Lingxiang.
“Fifth Sister, you’re usually so quick-witted. Why were you repeating everything I said just now, like a parrot that only knows how to mimic people?”
Hearing her third sister’s disdain, Shen Lingxiang promptly released her arm and scrunched up her little face.
“Hmph! Third Sister, you’re so mean! I’m not playing with you anymore. I’m going to find Eldest Sister and Fourth Sister!”
Shen Lingmiao had barely stepped through the doorway when a soft, fragrant figure threw herself into her arms.
A pair of arms tightened around her waist.
Then the young woman in her embrace looked up in surprise, her sweet voice carrying a distinctly mischievous note.
“Shen Zhaozhao, it’s only been half a year. How has your waist become so… pfft! Haven’t you filled out quite a bit since I last saw you?”
At those words, every trace of the gentle, dignified composure Shen Lingmiao had maintained in front of outsiders vanished.
Though a little guilty, she defended herself with perfect confidence.
“Nonsense! I’m simply wearing more layers today!”
The spring imperial examinations had already passed, but the spring chill in Bianjing was still biting.
It was cold!
Shen Lingmiao had always been afraid of the cold—and even more afraid of dying.
After all, in ancient times, even an ordinary cold could cost someone their life.
For the sake of preserving her precious little life, she had stubbornly added a thick short coat over her inner garments.
And she hadn’t stopped there.
She had also firmly insisted that her little Lingling wear a short padded jacket.
Of everyone present, only the two sisters were still dressed in winter clothes.
The Shen family’s Third and Fifth Young Ladies had long since changed into fashionable new spring outfits.
As for the County Lady of Qinghe, she was unquestionably a trendsetter at the very forefront of Great Zhou fashion.
She had always valued elegance over warmth.
Today, she wore a pale water-green spring dress, its fabric as thin as cicada wings, making her look as slender and graceful as a tender willow shoot in spring.
Zhao Huizhen was just about to nod and accept her friend’s explanation when something seemed to occur to her.
She suddenly cupped Shen Lingmiao’s face in both hands, turning it this way and that as she examined her closely.
“Wait a moment. Something isn’t right, Shen Zhaozhao. Your cheeks are quite a bit rounder than they were six months ago too!”
She gave them an experimental squeeze.
“Though I must say, they feel rather nice!”
With her best friend pinching both cheeks at once, Shen Lingmiao could only reflect that no one knew quite how to strike where it hurt like one’s dearest friend.
Shen Lingling stepped forward to rescue her eldest sister.
“Sister Huizhen, you may not know this, but winter has only just ended. Eldest Sister has probably put on a little winter weight, that’s all.”
Shen Lingmiao nodded vigorously.
As expected, her darling little Lingling was the most considerate!
Zhao Huizhen released her hands, though she couldn’t resist giving her friend’s cheek one final stroke.
Her expression practically declared, Really? You expect me to believe that?
Still, she didn’t pursue the matter.
After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats.
Shen Lingmiao looked at her friend.
“I thought you’d stay by West Lake until summer, then come back once the worst of Bianjing’s heat had passed.”
Last autumn, the County Lady of Qinghe had accompanied the Princess Consort of Kang Commandery to Hangzhou to visit her maternal grandparents’ family.
Zhao Huizhen shook her head and lifted her teacup, taking a delicate sip.
“Hangzhou is lovely, but even the loveliest place grows tiresome after a while. When news of the victory in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun reached Hangzhou, I finally understood what Du Zimei meant when he wrote of hastily rolling up his books and poems, almost mad with joy.”
“If I’d missed this, wouldn’t I have regretted it terribly?”
Then she added, “I brought quite a few bolts of Hangzhou silk and some precious curiosities for you all. I’ll have someone deliver them to the Earl’s residence later.”
Shen Lingying’s heart stirred.
A smile spread across her face as she looked at the County Lady and asked with apparent curiosity, “County Lady, what is Hangzhou like? Is it truly as prosperous and splendid as the books describe?”
Only then did Zhao Huizhen turn her attention to Shen Lingying.
She casually recounted some of the sights and experiences from her journey.
Shen Lingxiang listened in fascination, her round eyes sparkling. Every so often, she let out an amazed “Wow!” Her gaze was full of longing.
Even Shen Lingling couldn’t help being enchanted, images of Jiangnan’s picturesque waterways taking shape in her mind.
Shen Lingmiao listened quietly while popping candied cherries into her mouth.
There was longing in her expression too, but even more than that, there was a deeper sense of wistfulness.
In her previous life, she had spent several years in Hangzhou.
At this time of year, the city would be alive with orioles darting through the air and lush grasses spreading across the landscape.
Gentle spring rain would surely be falling along the Su Causeway on West Lake.
That was the misty, rain-drenched Jiangnan of poetry.
After talking for so long, Zhao Huizhen’s throat had grown dry.
She raised her teacup to moisten it, only to catch sight of the plate of candied cherries on the table out of the corner of her eye.
It was nearly empty.
She froze for a moment.
Noticing her friend’s gaze, Shen Lingmiao curved her lips into a smile.
Using a silver pick, she speared the very last candied cherry and held it to Huizhen’s lips.
Zhao Huizhen instinctively opened her mouth and accepted it.
The cherry was sweet and tart, soft and luscious, and conveniently prevented the words on the tip of her tongue from escaping.
Oh, forget it, Zhao Huizhen thought. She’d accepted the food. It would be ungracious to complain.
But just as she was about to swallow, something occurred to her.
Wait a moment.
Hadn’t she been the one who ordered that plate of candied cherries in the first place?
Oh, never mind.
Speaking of food, she suddenly remembered a delicacy from the Wu region.
She smiled.
“While I was staying in Hangzhou, my favorite dish was the golden relish and jade fish slices of Wu Commandery.”
As Confucius said, one could never be too particular about the refinement of one’s food or the fineness of one’s sliced fish.
The dish known as golden relish and jade fish slices was made from plump, succulent perch of the eighth and ninth lunar months, after the frosts had come.
The fresh fish was sliced so thinly that the flesh gleamed white as jade.
The people of Wu Commandery were especially fond of this exquisite delicacy.
“When I returned to Bianjing this time, I had several fine perch packed in ice and transported all the way here…”
Zhao Huizhen deliberately trailed off.
Shen Lingmiao propped her chin in her hands and gazed at her friend, blinking expectantly.
Zhao Huizhen burst out laughing.
“All right, all right! I’ll have someone send them to your residence later so you can taste this Wu Commandery specialty for yourself.”
Her objective achieved, Shen Lingmiao parted her pink lips to speak.
But before she could utter a word, Zhao Huizhen pressed a slender, jade-like finger against them.
She clearly knew what her friend was about to say.
It would be nothing more than another warning not to eat too much raw fish.
“I know, I know. I only indulge in it occasionally. I certainly won’t eat it often.”
Shen Lingmiao stared at her dear friend with wide eyes.
And you expect me to believe that?
Just as Zhao Huizhen hadn’t believed her explanation about winter weight.
Knowing she was in the wrong, Zhao Huizhen turned her head away, refusing to meet her friend’s eyes.
Instead, she instructed Caiwei, “Go and ask the manager to bring another plate of candied cherries.”
Hearing this, Shen Lingmiao laughed softly and shook her head.
Then she turned to the maid standing behind her.
“Qingyuan, order another serving of candied cherries. Second Sister has always been fond of Fengle Tower’s chestnut-yellow cakes, so get a portion of those as well. Have everything packed to take home.”
Although Manager Zhang of Fengle Tower was a snob who habitually flattered the powerful and treated people according to their status, the establishment’s pastry chef was truly unrivaled in all of Bianjing.
At her words, Zhao Huizhen casually asked, “Why haven’t I seen your second sister today?”
“Second Sister isn’t feeling well. She shouldn’t be exposed to the wind, so she couldn’t come.”
Her second sister had been unwell since the end of last year.
No one seemed to know exactly what ailed her.
Doctors had been summoned and treatments prescribed, but nothing had helped.
Her condition had improved and worsened by turns, dragging on until spring arrived without any sign of a full recovery.
Qingyuan acknowledged the order and withdrew.
She had a round, apple-shaped face, with a dimple in each cheek when she smiled, giving her a particularly cheerful appearance.
Zhao Huizhen regarded her with amusement and teased, “Look at this little maid of yours! Like mistress, like servant. Just look at those round cheeks!”
Qingyuan stamped her foot.
“County Lady! You’re teasing this servant again!”
Shen Lingmiao immediately came to her maid’s defense.
“She’s still growing, you know.”
Of her four personal maids—Huqing, Chuyang, Qingyuan, and Fenghe—Qingyuan was the youngest.
She had only just turned seventeen a few days ago.
She was still a minor!
What was wrong with being a little fond of food?
“All right, all right. It seems even this little girl is beyond the reach of my teasing now.”
Shen Lingying watched enviously.
Even the maids serving her eldest sister dared to joke with the County Lady and act playfully offended in her presence.
Wasn’t Eldest Sister being far too partial?
She was the dignified Third Young Lady of an earl’s household, yet she couldn’t even compare to one of her eldest sister’s maids when it came to the standing she enjoyed in the County Lady’s eyes.
Shen Lingying twisted her handkerchief between her fingers, lowered her head, and fell silent.
Shen Lingling, perceptive by nature, noticed the change in her third sister’s expression.
Without drawing attention to it, she smoothly steered the conversation elsewhere.
Just then, a deafening roar of cheers and excited shouts erupted from the street below.
The waves of sound rose higher and higher, so loud that even the window frames trembled.
The sound of horses’ hooves reached their ears.
Shen Lingmiao’s eyes lit up.
She rose to her feet and hurried to the railing to look down.