Donglin Kingdom, Yuan Family Fishing Village.
Shen Wei and her younger brother Yuan Fu returned with a bountiful catch, enjoying a hearty seafood feast that evening. As night fell, the fishing village gradually quieted down, and Shen Wei retreated to her small house to rest.
The siblings lived in a cramped dwelling—just one main room with walls made of wooden planks and fishing nets. Shen Wei slept on the bed, while Yuan Fu curled up beneath the window on a makeshift bed of fish skin and a thin quilt, clutching his fishing spear.
The crashing waves kept Shen Wei tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
It was easy to grow accustomed to luxury but hard to return to hardship.
In her previous life, Shen Wei had lived in opulence, enjoying the finest food and comforts. Now, inexplicably stranded in this humble fishing village, she endured drafty walls, the relentless sound of the sea, and the chill seeping through her thin bedding. It was unbearable.
Restless, she gazed at the pale moonlight filtering through the window, illuminating Yuan Fu’s face below the sill. Her eyes lingered on the fishing spear in his hands, and she finally asked, "Little Brother, why do you always sleep holding that spear?"
Ever since Shen Wei transmigrated into Yuan Xi'er’s body, she had noticed this peculiar habit. The twelve-year-old boy always slept beneath the window, gripping his spear until dawn, when he would finally hang it back on the wall.
Yuan Fu tightened his grip on the spear but said nothing.
"Creak—"
A strange noise came from outside.
Shen Wei perked up. "What was that?"
The room was dark, the ghostly moonlight casting an eerie pallor over everything, making the house resemble a funeral hall.
Yuan Fu sprang up like an angry fish, spear in hand, and charged outside.
A pained yelp followed.
"Ow! Yuan Fu, stop poking me! I just came to see your sister—I’ll be your brother-in-law! I’ll even give you coins!"
"Get lost!"
"Tch, you two are so ungrateful. That used goods, Xi'er, has already been tainted by who knows how many men. I’m not even complaining—and I’ll pay!"
"If you don’t leave, I’ll stab your throat!"
"Fine, fine! I’m going. But your sister’s got that seductive look—showing herself on the beach today was just asking for attention. And here I was, willing to pay!"
"Go! Don’t come back!"
The commotion outside soon faded.
Yuan Fu returned, his small face stern, still gripping the sharp spear. He shut the door firmly, sat back on his makeshift bed beneath the window, and wiped away silent tears.
Shen Wei’s expression darkened. Now she understood.
A widow’s door invited trouble, and so did an orphaned girl’s. Since their parents had perished in a shipwreck, Yuan Xi'er and her brother had lost their protectors, leaving them vulnerable to the village’s cruelty. Yuan Xi'er, young and fair-skinned among the sun-darkened fisherwomen, stood out like a rare jewel.
With no elders to shield her and only a young brother for company, she had become an easy target for the village’s unmarried men.
Not long ago, Yuan Xi'er had thrown herself into the sea in despair. Though rescued, she had remained bedridden until today, when she appeared on the beach at dusk—reigniting the lustful gazes of those men.
They dreamed of scaling the walls at night to claim their prize.
Now Shen Wei understood why Yuan Xi'er had clung to the fantasy of marrying Prince Wu. To her, it was the only escape from the village’s predators.
"Don’t cry," Shen Wei murmured, crouching beside Yuan Fu and wiping his tears.
Yuan Fu sniffled. "Big Sister... I won’t let them hurt you."
She patted his shoulder gently. "Thank you, Little Brother."
In the frigid night, the siblings found warmth in each other.
Shen Wei resolved to leave Yuan Family Fishing Village as soon as possible.
A place like this, where poverty bred malice, was no home.
...
...
At dawn, Shen Wei awoke to Yuan Fu’s voice.
"Big Sister, wash up. The soup’s almost ready."
She dressed and stepped outside.
Yuan Fu was a remarkably mature child, enduring his sister’s past mistreatment without bitterness. Breakfast was two bowls of clam soup—simple, boiled in plain water with a dozen plump clams.
Yuan Fu’s bowl held only two clams.
The rest were in Shen Wei’s.
With a quiet sigh, she divided half of hers into his bowl.
"Big Sister, I—I’m not hungry. You’re still recovering. Eat more," Yuan Fu stammered, flustered by her kindness.
"You need strength to protect me," she countered.
Hugging his shell bowl, Yuan Fu’s nose stung with emotion.
The clams were delicious, and the siblings ate their fill. After last night’s harvest, Yuan Fu had preserved some seafood for drying, while the rest sat in buckets, ready for the market.
Instead of resting, Shen Wei chose to accompany him. They tidied up and set off with their buckets.
On the way, they ran into their neighbor, Sister Qiao.
Mending a fishing net, Sister Qiao eyed Shen Wei’s delicate features and sneered, "Oh, Xi'er’s out again? All dolled up—off to seduce Prince Wu?"
Yuan Fu bristled. "Sister Qiao, stop lying! Big Sister and I are selling seafood at the market! She’s not looking for the prince!"
Sister Qiao scoffed. "Everyone knows the market’s right by Prince Wu’s Mansion. Your sister’s still delusional, thinking she can climb that high—she’s not even fit for the village bachelors, let alone royalty. What a joke."
Yuan Fu’s face flushed with anger.
Shen Wei tugged his arm. "Ignore her. Let’s go."
...
The market bustled at the heart of Wu County, near Prince Wu’s Mansion.
The streets teemed with people, the air thick with the briny scent of seafood and the hum of commerce.
When Prince Wu Zhao Ziqi first arrived in Wu County, he found its people gaunt with hunger. Without hesitation, he slashed their taxes, lifting the burden from their shoulders.
With lighter burdens, the county flourished. Merchants flocked in, trade thrived, and life improved.
As Shen Wei followed Yuan Fu through the market, she observed the budding prosperity. The young prince’s governance was surprisingly effective.
His strategy of "governing by non-interference" had revitalized this once-impoverished land.
She even suspected that Prince Wu’s frequent horseback excursions—ostensibly to "seek beauties"—were merely a cover for inspecting his people’s welfare.
Lost in thought, Shen Wei barely noticed the sudden commotion at the far end of the market.
Prince Wu Zhao Ziqi had arrived.
