Early the next morning, at the first pale glimmer of dawn, Shen Yanshui was still deep in sleep when someone gently roused her.
Her eyes would barely open. Buried beneath the covers, she struggled to pry them open a sliver and saw a faint, hazy light filtering through the bed curtains. In a hoarse, drowsy voice, she asked, “What time is it?”
Chunping answered with a smile, “My lady, it is now three-quarters into the Hour of the Rabbit. It is time to pay our respects to the Crown Princess.”
Shen Yanshui grew a little more alert at that, though her body still did not feel quite well. Thinking of how the Crown Prince had risen at three-quarters into the Hour of the Tiger—just after four in the morning—she could not help but admire him.
Getting up so early every day, attending court, hearing matters of state... Hm?
Wait.
She suddenly jolted upright!
That familiar sensation within her body... could this be... her ability?!
She immediately dismissed everyone from the room, then, almost unable to wait, examined the strange energy that seemed to have suddenly appeared inside her.
It was real. It was not her imagination...
Opening her eyes again, she reached for a branch of half-bloomed peach blossoms from the white porcelain vase on the small table beside her bed and activated her ability.
In mere moments, the buds on the peach branch burst fully into bloom.
Shen Yanshui was overjoyed.
But what was going on? Why had her ability shown no sign of returning for more than ten years, only to suddenly reappear today?
The greatest difference from before was... she had slept with the Crown Prince?
“My lady, it is nearly time. We must not delay any longer,” Chunping reminded her softly from outside.
Shen Yanshui placed the branch back into the vase and called for the attendants to come in.
Whatever the reason, the return of her ability was unquestionably wonderful news.
Xia'an stepped quietly into the inner chamber, bowed, and raised a copper basin of warm water above her head with both hands, waiting for her mistress to rise and wash.
After Shen Yanshui had gotten up and finished washing, she glanced at the brightly colored garments prepared nearby—pomegranate red and begonia pink—and said, “Bring me the lotus-pink one. Put my hair in a small round bun, and the pearl moon crown will do.”
Xia'an, waiting at the side, hesitated for a moment before asking quietly, “My lady, would the lotus-pink one be a little too plain?”
Qiuhe murmured her acknowledgment and began carefully arranging her mistress’s hair and makeup.
Shen Yanshui smiled at Xia'an’s words. “A little plain is exactly right. Do as I said.”
“Yes, my lady,” Xia'an replied.
When it came to clothing and adornment, Shen Yanshui’s preference was simply to remain moderate. She could not dress too plainly or too modestly, lest others take her for timid and easy to bully; but neither could she stand out too much and attract unwanted attention. The fewer troubles she invited, the better.
In Great Yong, married women wore all their hair pinned up in an assortment of styles. The round bun was one of the more common ones.
Common women decorated their buns with ribbons and hairpins, while among noblewomen, ornate floral crowns had become fashionable in recent years. The pearl moon crown was one such style.
The April morning sky was still gray and dim, with a faint chill in the air. Before leaving, Shen Yanshui draped a cloak over her shoulders. The moment she stepped outside, she saw Lady Liu already waiting in the courtyard, dressed rather lightly, her slender figure appearing all the more graceful for it.
“Greetings, Sister Shen.” Lady Liu was dressed rather thinly, her lips trembling slightly from the cold. Seeing Shen Yanshui’s rosy cheeks and radiant complexion, she could not help but feel a touch of envy.
Just looking at Lady Liu made Shen Yanshui feel cold. Although, after gaining her ability, she would likely become impervious to heat and cold, the habits she had formed over so many years were not so easily changed.
“No need for such formality. Lady Liu, you should put on more layers, lest you catch a chill.”
Lady Liu tugged at the corner of her lips in a smile. “Thank you for your concern, Sister Shen, but I am not cold.”
Seeing this, Shen Yanshui said no more. She set out from Lotus Heart Court with Chunping, while Lady Liu was accompanied by a palace maid of her own. The four of them had just left the courtyard when they looked up to see another group of four approaching from the opposite end of the passageway. The two parties happened to meet before Moonlight Gate.
Shen Yanshui was the first to offer a salute, saying with a smile, “Greetings, Lady Zhang.” Lady Liu at her side and Lady Zhao, who stood beside Lady Zhang, likewise curtsied in greeting.
Lady Zhang wore a moon-white cross-collared blouse, paired with a fragrant-consort-pink pleated skirt embroidered with plum blossoms. Over it, she had draped a sky-blue, wide-sleeved open-front robe. Her hair was arranged in a single spiral bun, adorned with a white-jade plum blossom hairpin, a look that suited her refined and scholarly air perfectly.
Only her makeup seemed somewhat heavy; her complexion had been powdered a little too white.
“Lady Shen, please rise.” Lady Zhang smiled at Shen Yanshui’s strikingly beautiful face, though a faint bitterness lingered in her expression.
Though she held the highest rank among the Crown Prince’s new women, he had not visited her chambers the previous night. The thought left a bitter taste in her heart—and made her lose face as well.
For now, she could only console herself that it had been Lady Shen rather than Lady Wu.
At least Lady Shen did not appear to be the sort to be sharp-tongued, competitive, or cruel. Had Lady Wu been the one favored last night, who knew how she might have flaunted it and mocked Lady Zhang today?
After exchanging formal greetings, they said nothing further. After all, they were not yet acquainted.
Shen Yanshui glanced at Lady Zhao, who stood behind Lady Zhang. She had never met her before; then Lady Zhao must have been one of the women already in the Eastern Palace.
They passed through Moonlight Gate and rounded a long covered corridor. The main hall of Fragrant Gathering Hall lay before them. Just as they were about to remove their cloaks, all of them halted in unspoken accord.
Before the steps of the main hall stood an extraordinary tree none of them had ever seen before.
Its branches were covered in silver-white blossoms, bright as snow. The boughs bent low beneath masses of blooms, as if piled with clouds and carved from jade. When the breeze stirred, tiny petals fluttered down in a soft drift, truly resembling spring willow fluff or snow swirling through winter air.
“What... what kind of flower is this? I have never seen anything like it before,” Lady Liu exclaimed softly.
Lady Zhang’s eyes widened slightly as well. “The whole tree is white, as though it had been dusted with snow. What a remarkable sight.”
Shen Yanshui gazed at the April snow before her in equal surprise. Then she quickly noticed several pots of golden-edged winter daphne blooming unusually well beside the steps. Their emerald leaves were rimmed in gold, their purple blossoms clustered thickly together, their fragrance filling the hall.
The others noticed them as well, but before they could look more closely, maids from Fragrant Gathering Hall had already come forward. The group removed their cloaks and was led into the main chamber by a maid serving the Crown Princess.
“Your servant pays her respects to the Crown Princess. May Your Highness enjoy peace and good fortune.”
The Crown Princess wore a wisteria-purple gown with wide sleeves. A shoulder-length crown adorned with hairpins and pearls rested upon her head, lending her a dignified and graceful air. With a warm smile, she looked at the women before her and said, “We are all sisters here, so there is no need for such ceremony. Please, take your seats. Serve the tea.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
After the newcomers rose, they exchanged another round of greetings with those who had arrived earlier before finally taking their seats.
Shen Yanshui’s place was toward the back, close to the main hall’s entrance. Holding a cup of hot tea, she looked at the pre-rain Longjing within it and pretended to take a sip. Her lips merely brushed the surface before she stopped. She then wrapped both hands around the cup to warm them.
“One can only have the chance to taste such fine pre-rain Longjing here in Your Highness’s residence. This must be this year’s new tea, mustn’t it?” a clear, ringing voice suddenly called out.
Shen Yanshui raised her eyes and saw a woman dressed in a blue, wide-sleeved jacket. She had a plump, rounded figure, yet wore her hair simply in a round bun. Her face was filled with eager flattery as she addressed the Crown Princess.
The Crown Princess pressed her lips together and replied with an elegant, composed smile, “It was merely some tea bestowed by the Crown Prince. It is nothing particularly valuable. If you like it, you should come sit with me more often.”
“The Crown Prince treats Your Highness so well. I heard that the April Snow and Golden-Edged Daphne outside were both newly presented tributes…”
Listening to the two women exchange pleasantries, Shen Yanshui soon figured out who the speaker was.
Lady Wang. She had a daughter, a little princess who was only a year old, and had once been the Crown Princess’s maid who accompanied her upon marriage.
With an absent-minded glance around the room, Shen Yanshui noticed that every seat was occupied except the one to the Crown Princess’s lower left. That must be the place reserved for Lady Chu, the highest-ranking woman in the Eastern Palace apart from the Crown Princess.
Aside from the Crown Princess, who had given birth to a little imperial grandson, Lady Wang, the Crown Princess’s former maid, was the only woman in the Eastern Palace with a child—a daughter. There were no other offspring.
However, it was said that Lady Chu, who was greatly favored, was now pregnant.
Just as Shen Yanshui was thinking about this, she heard movement outside. The woman’s voice reached them before she herself appeared.
“What fragrance are the Crown Princess and all the younger sisters discussing?”
Shen Yanshui turned her head and saw a strikingly beautiful woman surrounded by everyone else.
The newcomer wore a pomegranate-red gown with wide sleeves and a peony crown studded with pearls. One hand rested on the arm of the nanny beside her as she walked with her heavily pregnant belly. Two palace maids led the way, followed closely by four more nannies.
Shen Yanshui took one look at this display and could not help inwardly clicking her tongue in amazement.
“Your servant pays her respects to the Crown Princess. Please forgive me for being unable to complete the proper ceremony.”
Lady Chu offered only a token curtsy before apologizing with an apologetic expression.
The Crown Princess hurriedly had someone support her and said with gentle reproach, “You are carrying a child, and the imperial physician said that this pregnancy has not been progressing well. I already excused you from paying your respects each morning. You should be resting and taking good care of yourself. Why put yourself through all this?”
Lady Chu pressed her lips into a smile. After taking her seat, she continued with a smile, “Your Highness’s kindness is engraved in my heart. Still, I ought to come and meet all the new younger sisters today. Otherwise, if we happen to meet face-to-face in the future without recognizing one another, would that not be embarrassing?”
With that, she smiled and said, “Oh, right. Your Highness, what were you and the other ladies discussing just now? I could hear how lively it was from all the way over there.”
The Crown Princess smiled. “Nothing much. We were merely talking about some of the flowers and plants outside the hall.”
The corners of Lady Chu’s mouth stiffened for a moment. They had been arranged so conspicuously, as though they were afraid no one would notice them.
She covered her lips and said, “They are indeed rather unusual. But no matter how beautiful the flowers are, how could they compare with the new sisters here? You are all so lovely that even I cannot help feeling inferior.”
Lady Wu instinctively lifted her chin with some pride, while Shen Yanshui and the others hurriedly murmured that she was too kind. Then Lady Chu suddenly changed the subject. Her gaze swept over them, pausing for a moment on Lady Wu’s face, before she smiled and asked, “I wonder which of you is Lady Shen?”
Shen Yanshui rose and lowered her head, offering a respectful curtsy. “This servant pays her respects to Lady Chu.”
Lady Chu cast her a sidelong glance, looking her up and down. Then she smiled carelessly. “You truly are a beauty in the making. No wonder His Highness has taken a liking to you.”
As she spoke, she cast a meaningful glance at Lady Zhang and Lady Wu, who were seated in front of her.
Lady Zhang lowered her head, twisting her handkerchief in both hands without daring to say a word.
Lady Wu, seated only one tea table away from Shen Yanshui, immediately flushed with humiliation and anger. Unable to restrain herself, she turned her head and glared fiercely at Shen Yanshui!
In terms of status, beauty, or talent, she had never thought herself inferior in any way to Shen Yanshui, who had nothing but her looks. So why was Shen Yanshui the one lucky enough to win His Highness’s favor first?
Seeing that Lady Wu was still glaring at her, Shen Yanshui asked with concern, “Sister Wu, what is wrong with your eyes? They are completely red. Are you feeling unwell?”
Lady Wu’s heart lurched, but embarrassment and anger quickly followed. She glared at Shen Yanshui. “What do you mean? Are you saying I’m jealous of you?”
Shen Yanshui glanced at her timidly and pressed her lips together. “Sister Wu, you misunderstand. That was not what I meant. I was only concerned that your eyes might be uncomfortable, so I asked.”
Lady Wu did not believe her. She had seen plenty of women who deliberately acted weak and pitiful like this!
“You—”
The Crown Princess smiled and said, “That is enough. Lady Shen was only showing concern for you.”
Hearing this, Lady Wu felt even more aggrieved and furious. Yet she did not dare to make another scene in front of the Crown Princess, so she could only grit her teeth and swallow her anger.
The Crown Princess turned her gaze toward Lady Shen. Her smile now appeared a little more genuine. After exchanging a few more words and introducing the newcomers to the old residents of the Eastern Palace, she said, “I must go to Kunning Palace shortly to pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager. We shall end things here for today. There is no need for you to come for morning greetings every day from now on. Once every five days will suffice.”
“Yes.”
The women rose and curtsied before dispersing. Lady Wu had a breath of anger caught in her throat, but she could only swallow it herself, not daring to cause trouble in front of the Crown Princess.
Lady Chu was the first to leave, accompanied by the same grand retinue as when she had arrived. The others then withdrew in succession according to their rank.
Shen Yanshui slowed her pace, allowing the women of higher rank to go ahead first.
But Lady Wu was determined to have the last word. Pulling a long face, she glared at Shen Yanshui and ground out, “Don’t celebrate too soon. We’ll see how this turns out.”
Shen Yanshui remained composed, smiling as she watched Lady Wu’s retreating back. It was not until they had entered Lianxin Court and returned to their rooms that Chunping lowered her voice and asked, “Mistress, should we have someone keep an eye on Lady Wu?”
Shen Yanshui slipped off her soft-soled embroidered shoes and sat down on the couch. Hearing this, she nodded with a smile. “We can’t be deaf and blind to what goes on in the Eastern Palace, but we must also know where to draw the line. Anyone who personally serves the two little princes must not grow too close to anyone else. Have them keep their distance as much as possible in their daily dealings.”
Chunping bowed. “Yes, Mistress. I understand.”
Shen Yanshui had Qiuru remove the moon-pearl coronet and jade hairpin with its beaded tassels from her head, leaving only two dark-red ribbons to tie up her hair. The weight on her head was instantly much lighter.
She then leaned back comfortably against the couch and began mulling things over, idly fiddling with the verdant bamboo branch on the incense table.
Before yesterday, all of the Crown Prince’s wives and concubines together numbered only seven. Compared with the other princes, whose rear palaces often held twenty or even thirty women, that was not many at all—in fact, it was comparatively few.
Shen Yanshui did not particularly care. Eating well, living comfortably, and enjoying her own quiet little life was what she wanted.
When she had been bestowed upon the Eastern Palace, she had originally assumed that she would have to rely on money to get by from then on. But the Crown Prince had shown her another possibility.
Not wanting to fight tooth and nail merely to win his favor was one thing. But if his favor came her way—and could make her life more comfortable—she would not turn down such an opportunity.
Just then, Quanfu hurried into the room and reported, “Mistress, the Crown Princess has bestowed two pots of golden-edged daphne…”
At that, Shen Yanshui quickly rose and accepted the gift with due respect. As was customary, she slipped the eunuch some silver before sending away the attendants from the Crown Princess’s household. Only afterward did she learn that the Crown Princess had not bestowed gifts on her alone. Several of the more prominent secondary consorts in the rear quarters had received them as well.
The only difference was that some had received fewer pots, while others had received more.
She turned her gaze to the golden-edged daphne blooming luxuriantly beside her.
Its leaves were ringed with gold along the edges and emerald green in the middle. The flowers were tiny, clustered tightly together at the tips of the branches. Their outer petals were pale reddish-purple or pinkish-purple, while the inner petals were milky white.
They looked both elegant and sumptuous, and made a very respectable display in the room.
But Shen Yanshui knew that this flower was also called the “scent-stealing flower,” renowned for its intense fragrance.
If a pregnant woman were to smell it…
Her gaze grew slightly guarded as her fingertips brushed lightly over the clustered purple-red buds.
During pregnancy, a woman’s qi and blood naturally descend to nourish the fetus, leaving the qi in the upper body more prone to weakness.
At first, the flower’s fragrance would make her feel invigorated. But after prolonged exposure, it could cause dizziness and vertigo, making it impossible to sleep at night and leaving one’s rest unsettled, thereby depriving the fetus of nourishment.
With still longer exposure, it could lead to chest tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, and night sweats…
The only question was whether this had been done deliberately, or whether it was merely an innocent mistake.
