Dai Li asked, "Sister Yun, I plan to leave the estate at the Hour of the Goat. Will you accompany me?"
"Again? Didn’t we just go out yesterday?" Yun Rong hesitated. She was over a decade older than Dai Li and had borne four sons in her youth. Combined with her worry over her drunken husband last night, she had tossed and turned, leaving her exhausted today.
Dai Li ignored her weariness, complaining petulantly, "Yesterday was just a short outing—we didn’t even explore all of Nankang Commandery. If I don’t take the chance to enjoy myself now, once the march begins, I’ll be stuck in a carriage day after day, bored out of my mind."
At first, Yun Rong was reluctant, but then she reconsidered. Yesterday, while strolling through the market together, Dai Li had mentioned wanting to visit a dilapidated temple in the eastern part of the city. Yun Rong had been unwilling to go to such a filthy place, but as the saying goes, a loss may turn out to be a gain—it was precisely because of that detour that she had lost her jade pendant, and Dai Li had later returned it, earning her favor.
Fine, she might as well go out again. Who knew? Another opportunity might present itself.
The side gate of the commandery office opened once more, and the carriage rolled out slowly.
This time, Yan San was not among the escorting guards, and only one of Qin Shaozong’s personal soldiers remained. When Yun Rong casually inquired about the reason, Dai Li simply said that her lingering anger from last night made her irritable at the sight of the marquis’s men, so she refused to let so many of them follow.
The wheels turned, and the carriage bearing the wooden plaque of the "Jiang" estate slowly entered the bustling marketplace. Commoners instinctively made way as it passed.
"Sister Yun, we didn’t get a proper look at Ruixiang Silk Emporium yesterday. Why don’t we visit again today?" Dai Li began making demands once more.
What could Yun Rong do but agree?
Most fabric shops and silk emporiums in the market only sold materials, displaying bolts of cloth in various patterns on their shelves for wholesale purchase. They didn’t include tailoring—that was the work of seamstresses.
High-end silk emporiums were the exception. These establishments, catering to the nobility, had no shortage of funds. They invested heavily in hiring skilled seamstresses to create sample garments. These samples allowed customers to try them on—regardless of fit—primarily to experience the fabric’s comfort and the richness of its patterns.
Ruixiang Silk Emporium was the best of its kind.
The journey there was uneventful, and Dai Li didn’t get sidetracked by gossip this time.
However, Yun Rong hadn’t expected the marquis’s favorite concubine to be so easily dazzled. Watching Dai Li try on one outfit after another, her face alight with greed and novelty, Yun Rong couldn’t help but roll her eyes in secret.
Tch. She really hadn’t been by Marquis Qin’s side for long. The luxury she’d seen was still limited, leaving her without the poise of a woman accustomed to finery.
At first, Yun Rong had the patience to wait, but as Dai Li took longer with each fitting and Yun Rong herself was exhausted, she eventually retreated to a secluded resting area in the corner.
There were plush chairs, round tables, maids fanning her and serving tea, and even snacks provided by the emporium. As the wife of a prefectural governor, why should she stand idly outside the fitting room when she could sit comfortably?
Creak.
The fitting room door opened again.
Dai Li stepped out, tossing the dress in her hands to an attendant maid. Her eyes flicked toward the resting area. "Tao Xiang, Ding Xiang, go attend to Sister Yun. I have enough help here—you two are just in the way."
The two maids exchanged glances. Given past experiences, they silently obeyed.
Once they left, Dai Li selected one of the emporium’s maids to follow her inside, leaving the other outside.
Creak.
The wooden door closed again.
Dai Li turned to the maid and whispered, "I have a business proposition for you. This must remain confidential. If you succeed, I’ll pay you three taels of silver."
At present, an ox cost four thousand coins—equivalent to two taels of silver. This wasn’t a small sum, considering an adult laborer’s daily wage was only about twenty coins.
For an ordinary person, this was a fortune.
The maid froze in surprise.
"The reason I’m asking you and not my own maids is that I’ve only recently been taken in as a favored concubine and don’t yet have trustworthy people around me. You’re unconnected to me and inconspicuous," Dai Li explained calmly.
Seeing the maid’s hesitation, she added, "It’s nothing complicated. Just buy a few things and make two deliveries to different inns. No shady business involved."
The maid’s doubts vanished. A simple errand for three taels of silver? This was a windfall. "Please, go on!"
Dai Li listed the inns she had passed yesterday. "You know Moonlight Lodge and Orchid Pavilion, correct?"
The maid nodded. Of course she did—they were among the finest inns in Nankang Commandery, far beyond the means of commoners.
"Prepare a bundle. At the end of the Hour of the Monkey today, take it to Moonlight Lodge and give it to the manager. Tell him it’s something Madam Dai has left here and will retrieve no later than the day she checks out. He must keep it safe. Tomorrow, do the same—same time, same bundle—but deliver it to Orchid Pavilion and repeat the message."
Dai Li took out some silver from her small purse and handed it over. "This is the deposit. You’ll get the rest when the job is done."
The maid eagerly accepted it, her eyes glued to the money. Dai Li asked, "Repeat what I just told you."
With silver at stake, the maid had listened carefully and now recited the instructions flawlessly.
Dai Li nodded. "Moonlight Lodge first, then Orchid Pavilion—the order must not be reversed. The delivery must be at the end of the Hour of the Monkey, not a moment earlier. As for the bundle’s contents: two sets of plain black-gray women’s robes, a small jar of rice powder, charcoal pieces, black dye..."
After listing everything, Dai Li added, "Wear a veil when delivering the bundle. If you can’t leave it at Orchid Pavilion tomorrow, don’t force it—just take it away. I’ll return to Ruixiang Silk Emporium tomorrow afternoon. If today’s task is done, just nod to me from a distance. No need to approach."
...
Creak.
The fitting room door opened.
Dai Li stepped out as if nothing had happened and selected another outfit to try on. After two more changes, she finally finished and walked over to the resting area.
"Sister Yun, I’m done. I’ll take all the fabrics I tried earlier." The marquis’s favored concubine was extravagant, spending money like water.
Yun Rong wasn’t surprised in the least.
Whether a man truly cared for a woman was most plainly seen in his willingness to spend on her.
Given how much Marquis Qin doted on Madam Dai, buying a few bolts of fine fabric was nothing. Even if she wanted to purchase the entire Ruixiang Silk Emporium, he likely wouldn’t bat an eye.
Dai Li glanced down at the small purse tied at her waist, flicking it lightly with her fingers. Feeling its weight, she smiled in satisfaction.
Whether it was the deposit for the maid or the payment for the luxurious fabrics, all the silver came from Qin Shaozong—the only difference was whether she handed it over herself or had a servant settle the bill.
Dai Li not only spent money without a shred of guilt but even stashed away a portion as funds for her eventual journey south. After all, she was now an actress playing a role, laboring both mentally and physically—wasn’t she entitled to some compensation? She felt no psychological burden whatsoever.
After leaving the silk shop, the two continued their shopping spree, visiting a teahouse, a rouge shop, and the jewelry store Jin Shi Zhai. By the time they exited Jin Shi Zhai, Dai Li was so energized that she dragged Yun Rong along on foot, forgoing the carriage entirely.
Yun Rong was exhausted to the point of dizziness, her face pale with a faint greenish tinge. Several times, she nearly blurted out a demand to return home, but she held back each time.
She was here as an escort—how could she speak up when her guest hadn’t had her fill? Besides, this particular guest was notoriously capricious. Ruining her fun now might undo all the rapport they’d painstakingly built. Fine, she told herself, she’d endure a little longer.
Just as Yun Rong managed to console herself, she suddenly heard the voice beside her say, "Sister Yun, I’m a bit tired. Why don’t we rest at this Ming Yue Ju? The place looks clean, and the attendants are well-dressed. It seems like a decent spot."
Without exaggeration, Yun Rong felt as if the clouds had parted and sunlight burst through the gloom overhead.
The diva was finally tired!
Forget Ming Yue Ju—why not just head straight home?
Yun Rong hurriedly said, "Little sister, we’ve already visited quite a few places today. Surely we’ve shopped enough. How about we—"
"Who said we’ve shopped enough?" Dai Li cut her off.
As if oblivious to Yun Rong’s stunned expression, Dai Li continued, "We still have to go to the West Market later. Back at Jin Shi Zhai, I overheard someone say that merchants from the Western Regions are selling exotic cats there—long, dense fur, big fluffy tails, completely different from our local ones. I want to see them."
Yun Rong’s vision darkened. The half-dispersed clouds above her seemed to knit back together.
"Come on, let’s take a short break at Ming Yue Ju, have some snacks, and set out again soon," Dai Li said, pulling her inside.
Inns like Ming Yue Ju not only provided lodging but also served meals to guests.
High-end establishments of this caliber naturally offered food far superior to ordinary inns—even surpassing many dedicated restaurants. However, such elite inns had their own rules: meals were not sold separately.
If you were staying the night, they’d prepare food for you. But if you just wanted to eat without lodging? Sorry, the inn wouldn’t accommodate you.
This policy won the favor of many nobles and wealthy merchants. After all, everyone preferred a quieter environment where their lodgings weren’t turned into a noisy, open-to-all dining hall.
Dai Li first booked a room for the night to secure dining privileges, then ordered food. After a few bites, she was so impressed that she waved her hand and—to Yun Rong’s astonishment—splurged on extending their stay by several more days.
Yun Rong: "..."
Her face turned frosty. She wasn’t focused on Dai Li’s gluttony but was instead consumed by one terrifying thought:
Several more days?
Did this mean she’d have to endure more shopping excursions tomorrow and the day after?!
