In Shengjing, there is a clear and sparkling moat known as the Jin River.
Winding into the city at its tail, the Jin River is illuminated by colorful glazed lamps on both banks that reflect across the water's surface, creating a decadent paradise favored by the nobility.
Wen Qingyu’s Shuyu Barge was moored in the darkest spot along the riverbank, framed by the hazy shadows of two giant willows. Twelve firefly-pearl lanterns hanging from the cabin roof cast a particularly dim light.
Lain languidly upon a brocade-wrapped soft couch, her pomegranate-red light gauze dress slipped down to her shoulders, and with hollow gold bells dangling from her bare ankles, the rich fragrance of wine drifting from the table lent the entire room an enchanting, hazy glow.
"My lady..." reported the maid Cuiliu tremblingly from behind a beaded curtain, "Prince Jinlan's personal guard just said... His Highness has urgent business and cannot come to see you."
Wen Qingyu lazily propped up her head, the smooth gauze draping low across her chest, as she closed her eyes and twirled a pitch-black dagger.
That man was Prince Jinlan; it was only natural that he had urgent business.
"Did he say what kind of business?"
Cuiliu wrung her hands and stammered, "It... it..."
With a sudden rush of wind, the dagger flew diagonally, embedding itself with a sharp *clank* into the vermilion lacquered floor just two inches in front of her. "Speak!"
The little maid collapsed to the floor in a heap, cold sweat streaming down her cheeks. "Prince Jinlan eats pastries personally made by the Princess Consort every single day at the hour of *xu*, and they say he even turned down Chancellor Qin's banquet!"
Wen Qingyu suddenly rose to her feet, the gold bells on her ankles chiming crisply. "That bitch Su Wanzhao must be deliberately clinging to him!"
Outside the cabin came the cheers of intoxicated young noblemen throwing gold leaves to the dancing girls. Barefoot, Wen Qingyu pulled the dagger from the floor, her fingers lightly caressing the sharp blade. "Deliver another message, and change the time to the end of the hour of *hai*."
The end of the hour of *hai* was the dead of night, a time of profound stillness. So what if she spent the entire night entangled with that man?
...
The evening breeze swept through the corridor carrying the scent of osmanthus. Weimo paused by the small pond at Qinshui Pavilion with an empty food box, her fingertips rubbing the plain sheepskin pouch inlaid with silk tucked inside her sleeve.
The leather of this pouch had been crafted from un-tanned raw lambskin, its grease and pastoral musk trapped deep within the fibers. Now, all it lacked was a dash of inferior jasmine incense to release a pungent, rotting stench.
In her past life, during the Prayer for the Harvest Festival, Su Wanzhao's bead bracelet had suddenly snapped. It was precisely Cuiliu, Wen Qingyu's maid, who had slipped into the residential quarters during the chaos, twisted the multicolored silk thread connecting the beads and linked them with copper wire, then roasted the copper wire over candlelight until it was scorching hot.
Within the span of a single cup of tea, the residual heat conducted by the copper wire would scorch the multicolored silk. At that moment, a mere touch of external force would cause the thread to snap completely under the weight of the heavy beads.
She had once suffered the excruciating pain of having needles pierced through all ten of her fingers at Su Wanzhao's hands because of this pair of mistress and servant. Now, Wen Qingyu was waiting on the painted barge, and this sheepskin pouch was the welcoming gift she had prepared for Cuiliu.
"His Highness had three pieces today," Wei Xiao said as he lifted the curtain, his face beaming with utter delight. "He wants you to make an extra one tomorrow and bring it over."
Weimo lowered her eyes and smiled faintly. "Yes."
Noticing the bamboo basket hanging from her left hand, Wei Xiao asked with a puzzled look, "Are you heading out of the estate?"
"The PrincessConsort mentioned she has a craving for the silver-scaled fish from beside the Jin River." She handed the empty food box to Wei Xiao. "She wants this maid to go pick out a few plump ones to bring back."
Wei Xiao's grip on the food box involuntarily tightened. "But it is getting late. Why would the Princess Consort..."
Holding the basket, she smiled brightly. "The Princess Consort is confined to her courtyard, and this maid is useless, able only to help her mistress slightly satisfy her cravings..."
Zhao Yan's black-booted toe stepped over the threshold at that very moment. "Then we'll go together."
The golden-roofed carriage sped through a dark alley. Wei Xiao whipped the reins, completely baffled as to why the Prince had clearly turned down Lady Wen's invitation just moments ago, only to change his mind in the blink of an eye.
Moonlight seeped through the gap in the carriage curtains.Zhao Yan leaned back against the gold-silk soft pillow with his eyes closed, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing the chi-dragon patterned jade pendant at his waist.
The gold-thread tassel was still tied in the Luo-sakura knot she had personally woven a few days ago.
"Have you looked enough?" the man suddenly spoke.
Startled, Weimo hurriedly lowered her head, missing the slight curve of the man's lips hidden in the shadows.
That half-formed smile lingered only for a moment before being swallowed back into the darkness.
Weimo obediently shrank into the corner. The incense burner blended the scents of peppermint and lye soap into a mingled, lingering aroma that drifted out of the carriage whenever the breeze lifted the curtain.
The carriage suddenly rolled over a rut, and the bamboo basket slipped from Weimo's hands. Instinctively lunging toward the carriage wall, she crashed instead into a crisp, refreshing wave of peppermint scent.
Zhao Yan kept his eyes closed, but his left hand steadily braced the small of her back. "Sit properly."
The warmth of his palm seeped through her coarse hemp clothing, causing her spine to involuntarily stiffen.
Outside the curtains, Wei Xiao's voice offering apologies mixed with the night wind as the horses neighed toward the sky, and the carriage gradually steadied.
Along the Jin River, tavern banners fluttered, peddlers beat bronze gongs to hawk their wares, and the sound of drums and stringed instruments drifted from the painted barges, interspersed with the raucous cheers of young noblemen.
Wen Qingyu stood barefoot on the carved railing of the Shuyu Barge, the gold bells on her ankles ringing merrily the moment she caught sight of the golden-roofed carriage in the distance.
"Your Highness!"
She spun and leaped down the barge's steps, only to freeze abruptly upon seeing the plain-clothed figure emerge from the carriage.
Holding the green bamboo basket, Weimo curtsied to the ground. "This maid greets..."
She deliberately paused, prompting Wei Xiao to murmur a reminder: "Lady Wen."
"This maid greets Lady Wen."
Wen Qingyu's pomegranate-red gauze skirt brushed against Weimo's embroidered shoes, leaving a smear of dark, foul-smelling mud across the toe. "Since Your Highness has come, why bring such insignificant people along to meddle?"
Of a wild and uninhibited nature, Wen Qingyu threw all decorum to the wind and latched directly onto Zhao Yan's waist, pressing her soft body tightly against him.
Without moving an inch, Zhao Yan turned his head to look at Weimo. "Go wait on the barge once you've finished buying."
...
Weimo crouched down in front of the fish stall to make her selection, while Wei Xiao kept watch outside the cabin door, his gaze fixed closely upon her. Once the basket was filled to the brim, she bowed slightly toward Wei Xiao from afar.
Wei Xiao crossed the spiral stairs to approach her, and she said apologetically, "Could I trouble Lord Wei to help me take these to the carriage?"
"Very well." Carefully taking the basket, Wei Xiao walked straight toward the carriage.
Weimo gazed at the dazzling lights of the Shuyu Barge, where Cuiliu stood guard outside the cabin alone.
Stepping slowly up the stairs, she was greeted by the river wind carrying fragmented voices from within the cabin. "Did you bring the list for the autumn imperial examination?"
Wen Qingyu's sweet, soft voice followed immediately after. "Your Highness has eyes only for that list. On such a lovely night, why not spare a few more glances for Yuer..."
She came to a stop beside Cuiliu, who shifted defensively.
Holding out the gold-threaded sheepskin pouch in her palm, Weimo said, "The Princess Consort has learned her lesson from her confinement..." She pushed the pouch forward a little further, letting a faint, milky fragrance drift on the breeze into Cuiliu's nostrils. "She wishes to bury the hatchet with Lady Wen."
Cuiliu let out a sneer through her nose, though her fingernails had already hooked onto the tassel. "Coming to suck up only after learning your lesson? My mistress doesn't fall for that trick!"
The moment the pouch touched her hand, her fingertips suddenly spasmed; the texture was fully three parts denser and tighter than the short fox-fur she had hidden away.
"Indeed," Weimo lowered her voice abruptly. "The Princess Consort has already arranged everything for Lady Wen's entry into the estate, purely to make a friend of you."
The hull suddenly rocked, and Cuiliu quickly shoved the pouch into her sleeve. "At least your mistress and you know what's good for you! My mistress is the noble daughter of an imperial censor, not some jinx who brought death to her entire family!"
Returning from dropping off the bamboo basket, Wei Xiao pulled Weimo behind him. "And so what if she enters the estate? She'd still only be a secondary consort. She is the foremost, favored maid at the Princess Consort's side—what are you acting so high and mighty for?"
Hiding behind the youth's broad shoulders, Weimo felt a flicker of surprise. In her memories, Wei Xiao was loyal and dependable, and she had never heard him trade insults with anyone. Why was he harboring such a fiery temper now?