Xie Yu slept for a very long time.
She was exhausted yesterday. After the carriage arrived at the former Chancellor's residence, she handed everything over to Shen Changyin to clean up, grabbed a quick bite, and fell asleep immediately.
She slept straight until dawn the next day.
Lying in bed, she looked around at the familiar furnishings.
Her first thought was: So this is where I'll be living for the next three years.
She got up and walked to the study. Opening the window, the morning air rushed in, carrying a faint, hidden fragrance. She noticed that the pagoda tree blossoms in the courtyard had turned pale white, like cool mist.
Everything around her was quiet. Shen Changyin must have already left for court.
It was the perfect weather for sorting out her thoughts.
She sat at the desk and cut a fresh stack of small papers.
Taking one, she decided to start by answering the simplest question.
Back when she had been captured and held in the Qinzheng Hall, she had a dream.
In that dream, the protagonist suffered persecution, died, and was reborn to take revenge.
First question: Was the protagonist Shen Changyin?
Answer: No.
In the dream, the protagonist's entire life revolved around revenge.
Power was merely the means to execute revenge; even the common people were targets of that revenge.
But Shen Changyin clearly cared more about gaining power itself, and she was willing to treat the people well.
She might want revenge on the Xie imperial clan, but she did not seem nearly as unhinged.
Second question: Then why did she have such a dream?
She originally thought it was some kind of warning from the world's will, but now that she thought about it, it was probably just her brain assembling a story unconsciously.
So she tentatively settled on that answer.
Third question: What kind of person is Shen Changyin?
She had already answered this earlier—ambitious, power-seeking, benevolent to the common people, vengeful.
The bigger issue was that these were traits the common people cared about, her subordinates cared about, even the emperor cared about—because these traits affected them directly.
But if she was truly going to live with Shen Changyin—possibly even marry her, living under the same roof—
What kind of person was Shen Changyin in that distance?
Over the past month, Shen Changyin had shown traits of a control freak, yet in a way that was gentle, concerned, and sometimes even indulgent.
But was that gentleness and concern real or fake?
After all, the very first time they met, Shen Changyin deceived her.
What reason did she have to believe this gentleness wasn't just another form of deception?
She couldn't figure it out. Setting down the brush, Xie Yu let out a long sigh.
No wonder modern people didn't want to get married—it was hard enough to truly know a person, let alone one who would share your roof every day.
She had indeed lost their bet, and she had indeed agreed not to run away anymore.
But she couldn't exactly rejoice at the prospect of getting married.
The third question troubled her for a long time.
She barely left her room all day, sitting at her desk, brooding like a novelist who couldn't write a chapter.
Late at night, Shen Changyin finally finished her long day of official duties and returned to the residence. She knocked on the door.
"Come in," Xie Yu said.
Shen Changyin's hair was tied up today, revealing her smooth forehead, and her overly delicate features were all exposed.
She wore white, walked softly, and spoke gently.
"Your Highness, I heard from the maids that you stayed in your room all day. Are you still worried about our marriage?"
"Yes." Xie Yu was blunt. "Am I easy to fool or something?"
Shen Changyin: "Of course not."
"Then why do I feel like you're always lying to me? Like you've been lying since the first time we met. When was the last time you lied to me?"
—Just now.
And in the moments to come.
"Your Highness, I only lied to you that one night."
"Why lie to me?"
Because among the entire Xie imperial clan, you are the easiest to deceive.
"It wasn't meant to hurt you. I was simply surprised you appeared there," Shen Changyin said. "I will try to lie to you less in the future."
Not stop lying.
Just lie less.
Still, Xie Yu huffed, accepting reluctantly.
"So we're engaged in a marriage of political convenience? A power alliance?" she asked seriously. "Then we should set some rules."
Shen Changyin suddenly laughed.
"What are you laughing at? Political marriages are normal."
"Yes, they are. It's just that political marriages are usually so common that people rarely approach them as… formally as you do."
Most couples preferred to maintain appearances, pretending they were in love even if the marriage was purely transactional.
"No matter. If Your Highness wants formal rules, then let us set formal rules." She agreed anyway.
Xie Yu took out another slip of paper and drafted a contract, but she couldn't think of much to include.
So, she gravely wrote:
"1- Party A and Party B are entering a political marriage, not a romantic marriage.
2- Neither party may force the other to fulfill marital obligations.
3- Neither party may interfere with the other's pursuit of other romantic partners."
"Other romantic partners?" Shen Changyin repeated. Then casually: "For example, Your Highness's childhood fiancée—the eldest Miss Shen?"
Xie Yu inexplicably jolted, though she didn't know why.
After regaining her calm, she said, "I don't even know her. Actually, wait—I just realized, you're both surnamed Shen?"
"Yes. But she is a graceful, elegant young lady raised in the refined water towns of Jiangnan, while I am merely a humble soldier-born nobody from the northwest."
"It's only natural that the Third Princess would prefer her more."
"Ugh…" Xie Yu rubbed her arm. "Enough already."
Shen Changyin only smiled and signed her name.
Two copies of the contract—Xie Yu handed one to Shen Changyin, and tucked her own copy into a little notebook along with the three questions she wrote earlier. Then she let out a long breath.
That settled it—her life for the next three years.
For a transmigrator, it was fairly stable. Not too bad.
Starting tomorrow, she wouldn't need to worry about running anymore. She could eat, drink, and enjoy life.
"Give me some money," she said.
She meant to explain why, in a political marriage, she could freely spend Shen Changyin's money without guilt.
But Shen Changyin didn't even question it.
"All silver in the accounts is available for Your Highness to use. At the bank, you and I share equal access. The maids will bring you some banknotes later, along with pocket money."
"Three thousand taels—will that suffice?"
Xie Yu was very satisfied.
She lifted her chin like a noblewoman, showed a dignified smile, then waved her hand to dismiss Shen Changyin like a lady of the house.
"As you command." Shen Changyin spoke the words softly, lightly. She looked at Xie Yu, walked backward a few steps, and then stepped out of the room.
—
Early the next morning—
Xie Yu kicked off her blankets, flipped over, did 200 sit-ups in her room until she felt full of energy.
Seeing the sky outside still dim, she dashed out of the room.
"Your Highness?! Where are you going?" The maids making breakfast in the small kitchen cried out in alarm.
"Out to play!" Xie Yu shouted back as she plunged headfirst into the cool, dark-blue dawn.
She was going to catch the early morning market!
The fifth watch was just beginning. A wooden clapper struck at the entrance of the market street. The thin layer of ice formed overnight melted instantly in the rising steam of hot pans.
At the street entrance, the first stalls she saw were the ones selling sesame balls, fried dough sticks, and rice cakes.
The vendors used long wooden chopsticks to flip the food in the oil, picking out the ones that were done, draining them, and wrapping them halfway in lotus leaves dried from last summer before handing them to customers.
That way, people could hold the steaming snacks and eat as they walked deeper into the market.
"Fresh cattail shoots! First harvest of the season!"
The morning market wasn't open every day, and today there were even more vendors than usual. One could buy uncommon wild vegetables and game.
Fish, newly pulled from ice, swam in buckets as customers haggled with the sellers.
Xie Yu looked left and right—two eyes and two ears were simply not enough.
Deeper inside were the stalls with tables and chairs.
White steam billowed like mist from every pot.
She sat down at a small wonton stall, holding the fried dough stick and sticky rice ball she bought earlier.
The vendor added a spoon of lard to the bowl, then a spoon of shrimp oil, then dried shrimp at the bottom.
She scooped tiny wontons from the boiling pot into the bowl, then poured over a ladle of milky bone broth.
The fragrance rushed straight into her brain.
She quickly grabbed her chopsticks, drizzled a small spoonful of chili oil into the soup, and dug in.
Soon, sweat dotted the tip of her nose.
She was eating happily when she suddenly felt something warm and fuzzy brush against her ankle.
Looking down—
a small yellow-and-white puppy.
Round, dark eyes, probably only two months old. Baby fluff still on its body.
It looked plump because of the fluffy fur, but it hadn't eaten properly for a while, staring fixedly at the wonton on her spoon.
"Technically, dogs shouldn't eat salty food," Xie Yu said. "But you're in no position to be picky."
She bought a small bowl from the vendor, split some wontons into it, waited for them to cool, and handed it to the puppy.
After dividing it, she realized she didn't have enough left for herself and had to buy another bowl.
After finishing the wontons, she wiped her mouth and stood up—then something felt wrong.
She looked down again.
The puppy had finished eating too—and was biting the hem of her blue skirt, pulling backwards with all its might, refusing to let her leave.
Xie Yu puffed up her cheeks like a pufferfish, rescued her skirt from its mouth, and started walking—only for the puppy to trot right after her.
"Go away. I don't like dogs," she said. "I'm warning you—I only fed you once. I'm not your anything."
She walked farther.
The puppy still followed behind, running with its tiny legs, like a dandelion fluff blown by the wind.
Xie Yu sighed and tried reasoning again.
"I don't even have my own house. I'm living in someone else's place. Where am I supposed to keep you?"
"Why don't you go scam someone rich instead?"
The puppy tilted its head, not understanding a single word, its shiny little glass-bead eyes fixed on her.
Xie Yu gave up and turned forward. It hurried to keep up.
She spent the entire day wandering around outside, noticing how busy everyone was, and the many wooden platforms being built everywhere—clearly preparing for some upcoming festival.
And the puppy had followed her the entire day.
When Xie Yu ate sugar figurines, it ate the sugar figurine's legs.
When she ate mung bean cakes, they nibbled the scraps.
By dusk, Xie Yu was standing outside the old Prime Minister's residence, holding a short green bamboo tube—the packed savory tofu pudding. She told the little dog, "This is where it ends. You can't follow me anymore."
She tried scaring it "This place is the lair of the Big Demon Queen. A tiny pup like you will be thrown into a pot the moment you go in."
Maybe it really was frightened. The little dog whimpered, then obediently sat down.
"You're so small you're not even as big as my foot." Xie Yu muttered. "Stay here. Tomorrow I'll bring you an egg."
Carrying her tofu pudding, she turned and walked through the gates.
There were quite a few people in the courtyard. Shen Changyin was speaking with two officials. Hearing her footsteps, all three looked over.
The two officials raised their hands in salute: "Your Highness, Third Princess."
Xie Yu nodded, glanced at Shen Changyin. "Who are they?"
"These are two Vice Ministers from the Ministry of Rites. This one is Zhang, that one is Guo." Shen Changyin said.
The younger one was Zhang; the older was Guo.
"Oh." Xie Yu wasn't sure what kind of greeting she should give, so she cupped her fists. "Nice to meet you both."
Everyone's eyes inevitably landed on the green bamboo tube she was holding in front of her chest.
Vice Minister Zhang politely looked away. "We are here not only to deliver gifts from the Ministry, but also to offer our congratulations. It has been many years since the capital witnessed such a major joyous event. The people must see the harmony and affection between you two."
Vice Minister Guo looked like an old stick-in-the-mud. "We heard that Your Highness spent the day touring the city. Observing the people's livelihood is a fine thing, but with the wedding date approaching, it would be best if you both spent more time together."
Xie Yu blinked.
Was her subtext: We all know you don't like each other and this is just a political marriage, but please act affectionately anyway?
Was she scolding her for not being home?
The courtyard suddenly hung in a brief silence.
Shen Changyin smoothed things over. "Her Highness went out for my sake. It wasn't merely for leisure."
"Oh?" Vice Minister Guo was unmoved. She stared straight at Xie Yu. "Then what is it that Her Highness is carrying? Is that not food?"
Yes, it was tofu pudding she packed to eat as a late-night snack. To keep the soft pudding from breaking apart, she even had it packed in a bamboo tube.
And what does any of that have to do with you?
Was she, the Third Princess, really so unfavored that a random former-official-turned-bureaucrat dared speak to her like this?
Standing right next to her was Shen Changyin, a woman who had killed countless people. If she had so much backbone, why not direct her outrage at her? Why pick on Xie Yu?
Xie Yu thought: Ah, so you do know Shen Changyin kills people.
"Vice Minister Guo misunderstands. Her Highness brought this back for me because I've had no appetite today."
Shen Changyin strode quickly to Xie Yu's side and reached for the bamboo tube. She lowered her voice.
"She's a pretentious old relic, but she comes from a noble clan. I'm already handling her family. Don't alert the snake."
Xie Yu held back, gripping the hemp rope tied around the bamboo tube.
Shen Changyin tugged several times before finally pulling it from her hands.
Xie Yu gritted her teeth and forced out: "Yes. I brought it for her. It's not my midnight snack. I don't even like tofu pudding."
She shot Shen Changyin a look: You'd better really destroy her.
Shen Changyin returned a calm assuring glance, which Xie Yu interpreted as I already planned to.
Seeing the affectionate eye contact, the old stick-in-the-mud was finally satisfied. She cupped her hands. "Then I am relieved. Seeing Your Highness and the Regent Queen so affectionate puts my heart at ease before I read the imperial decree."
Xie Yu asked with her eyes: What imperial decree?
Before she got an answer, Vice Minister Guo took out the decree. Her beady mouse-like eyes darted toward Shen Changyin first. When she made no move to kneel, she didn't dare insist and simply began reading.
"By imperial decree: We hereby confer upon Our third daughter, Yu, the title of Princess Jin, and bestow the old Prime Minister's residence on East Third Street as her estate. Her betrothal banquet with the Regent Queen Shen Changyin shall be held half a month from now."
"So decreed."
"Your Highness, please accept the decree. This was requested specifically for you by General Shen at morning court."
Xie Yu took the bright yellow decree, casually rolled it up, and tucked it under her arm.
Shen Changyin said, "I won't see you two out. Please."
After sending the officials away, Xie Yu frowned at her. "You requested a decree making me a Princess?"
Shen Changyin nodded. "The engagement banquet is near, and your eighteenth birthday is approaching. My own investiture celebration was never held. I figured we could simply combine everything with your ennoblement and make it a fourfold celebration."
Xie Yu looked enlightened. "I see… Then this estate really is mine? I'm not stealing your place?"
"I have another princely residence. This old Prime Minister's estate is indeed now your manor."
"Ohh…" Xie Yu pondered.
Then pure joy exploded across her face.
She rushed out the door, grabbed the little dog still waiting outside, and hugged it. "Little Flower, this is our home now."
She pointed at Shen Changyin. "This is Auntie Shen. When you guard the house, remember not to let her in."
"Go on now, chase your Auntie Shen out of my house."
She looked up and pointed to the doorway. "Out."
"In broad daylight, before witnesses everywhere, and we aren't even married yet—how improper would it be for us to live in the same residence? Go to your own home."
"Unfortunately," Shen Changyin folded her hands in front of her face in a pleading gesture, "the capital is crowded and housing scarce. I have already given my residence over to my subordinates."
"Your Highness, please have mercy on me and take in this homeless soul."
Xie Yu hadn't really expected to throw Shen Changyin out anyway, so she just nodded and let her stay.
She set the little dog on the floor to explore.
Walking up to Shen Changyin, she complained, "That Vice Minister Guo treated me so badly. Why was she so polite to you? Aren't you dealing with her family?"
"Perhaps she doesn't know." Shen Changyin walked beside her with an innocent expression. "The Guo family recently turned over many benefits to me. She likely believes they are my allies."
"Wait, but you're still going to deal with them?" Xie Yu stopped. "Last time the Second Princess told me you executed one of your own followers—someone named Zhao?"
"Yes." Shen Changyin said casually. "And the Guo family is like Lord Zhao: marked for death long ago. I simply intend to drain every drop from them beforehand."
A cold shock shot straight up Xie Yu's spine. She shuddered.
The two walked into the main courtyard, then into the hall, sitting at the small round table.
Xie Yu asked, "Then how did she dare talk to me like that—her boss's fiancée?"
"Because the court still assumes I will torment you."
Shen Changyin opened the bamboo tube. The warm, savory smell of tofu pudding wafted out. "Thank you for thinking of me while you were out enjoying yourself."
"It wasn't for you." Xie Yu snatched the tube back. "You don't get any."
"How cruel." Shen Changyin tilted her head, eyes widening slightly, pupils bright.
"That trick only works when Little Flower does it. Humans can't." Xie Yu covered her eyes with a hand, pretending not to see.
Shen Changyin only laughed and summoned the maids to bring dinner.
Xie Yu ate two extra bowls of porridge, three buns, and a plate of beef.
After walking the dog until Little Flower lay on the ground belly-up in protest, she finally felt full.
That night, she slept extraordinarily well.
The next morning, still half-asleep with roasted duck floating around her dreams, she suddenly felt light shining on her face.
"Your Highness, time to wake up." Shen Changyin's voice drifted in.
"No." Xie Yu mumbled, unsure if she was dreaming. "I don't have anything to do."
"In fact," Shen Changyin stood at her bedside holding a lantern, "you must rise to attend court."
Xie Yu's eyes flew open. "I'm not an official. I already agreed to a political marriage with you. Aren't I supposed to be the pampered wife?"
"The Princess must attend court. You were granted a princely title just yesterday. Did you forget?"
Right. The princely title that came with a big house.
Accepting her fate, Xie Yu got up. Her underclothes were long-sleeved and long-legged, so she wasn't worried about Shen Changyin seeing anything.
But once she needed to change, she shooed her out. "Go go go. Don't take advantage."
Only once they were in the carriage did Xie Yu's grogginess fade a little.
She lifted the curtain, looked outside for a while, then dropped it. Suddenly, realization struck.
"You already knew princesses have to attend court. Why didn't you tell me yesterday?"
"I forgot." The Regent looked very innocent.
"No. Why did you just happen to remember to request a princely title for me yesterday? What a coincidence." The newly minted Princess Jin narrowed her eyes.
Shen Changyin's gaze drifted upward. "Yesterday, while I was eating breakfast alone, I realized that if you had time to wander the morning market, you must have been far too idle. So I requested a title for you."
"Just because I didn't eat breakfast with you?!" Xie Yu stared. "You can't be serious!"
No matter her protests, the carriage rolled straight into the imperial city.
Soon they arrived at the Qinzheng Hall. In front of them, clusters of officials already waited.
The Crown Princess in blue, the Second Princess in red, and other princesses, each surrounded by their own factions.
It seemed that aside from her, every princess was already engaged in governance and building their own power— even the still young Seventh Princess.
Xie Yu shook her head. She really was the most neglected of the imperial daughters.
She looked around the hall curiously.
The last time she came here, she had been a prisoner. This time, the scene was completely different.
Large incense burners were placed all around the Qinzheng Hall, their thick, drifting fragrance spreading through the air. The Daoists in gray robes—half of whom had been killed last time—had now been replenished with a fresh batch. They stood arranged in their own neat little formation.
"I swear… Daoists actually attend court?" Xie Yu rarely cursed. "Even among superstitious empresses, she's a bit too ridiculous."
Naturally, she was insulting her current mother, the present empress.
The officials around them stared at their noses, and their noses at their hearts, pretending they hadn't heard a thing.
Before long, the attendant drew out her voice:
"Her Majesty the empress arrives—!"
In this dynasty, meeting the empress didn't require kneeling. One only needed to bow their head in respect. The court officials all lowered their heads at once, the black crests of their hats rising in unison like a forest.
Shen Changyin didn't move.
Xie Yu didn't move either. She stared tightly at the figure walking from behind the hall to the front.
She wanted to see for herself what kind of person the empress was—the woman who had sold off her third daughter and couldn't even be bothered to ask about her afterward.
Surprisingly, the empress was very robust.
Her hair was already gray, but her shoulders were still broad. Her face had wrinkles, yet her expression was firm and calm, carrying a deep and unfathomable authority.
Considering how superstitious she was about Daoists and witchcraft, the fact that she hadn't poisoned herself with five-mineral powder or overdosed on alchemical pellets to the point of heavy-metal poisoning was already quite impressive.
Once the empress at, she glanced in Xie Yu's direction.
Xie Yu didn't dodge.
After a brief moment of eye contact, it was the empress who looked away first.
The attendant called, "If there is business, present it. If not, the court will be dismissed."
An official stepped forward. "Your Majesty, the Flower Moon is approaching. All regions have begun preparing their celebrations…"
Xie Yu listened for a while and discovered that this dynasty had a very unique festival. The Flower Moon occurred when the blossoms were at their fullest, a festival established to celebrate spring.
It lasted thirty days. Celebrations would be held everywhere, night markets would become lively, and many customs were associated with it.
There was even said to be a banquet of flowers.
This sounded fun. Xie Yu quietly set Flower Moon as her next entertainment goal.
The rest of the reports were far duller—mostly finance and grain taxes.
Xie Yu's head started spinning. Combined with the excessive carbs she had eaten that morning, she couldn't help yawning.
Immediately, the next official stepped out. "I submit an impeachment against Princess Jin for misconduct before the throne."
Xie Yu's yawn froze halfway, her mouth still open, jaw nearly dislocating.
She quickly shut her mouth and looked toward the official. Unsurprisingly, she belonged to the Second Princess's faction.
The Second Princess, dressed in red with strikingly beautiful features, was smiling in her direction.
Alright. So that was how she wanted to play.
Xie Yu stretched her fingers and instinctively took a step forward.
Then she remembered she was now engaged, technically someone's delicate, respectable fiancée. She looked back at Shen Changyin.
Before her glance even finished, Shen Changyin stepped back and said, "Do whatever you want. I don't need to use their family."
Perfect.
Xie Yu turned back with a feral grin, lunged forward, grabbed the woman's collar, and slammed her over her shoulder.
The hall instantly erupted. Officials from the Second Princess's faction rushed forward.
Unfortunately, they were all civil officials. Each one who came, Xie Yu threw. More than a few were flipped to the ground, closed their eyes, and fainted.
Her final target, of course, was the Second Princess.
Xie Yu grabbed her and slammed her down as well. She was already itching to leap forward and crush her.
The Second Princess truly looked like she was about to die right there, when the empress finally spoke. Her low voice filled the entire hall.
"Third, that's enough."
Xie Yu paused mid-movement and looked lazily toward the throne.
The empress didn't look at her much. She simply addressed the Second Princess, who was scrambling up. "Second, write your own reflection after court."
Then to Xie Yu: "You, return."
Xie Yu shrugged and went back to stand beside Shen Changyin.
Everything after that proceeded peacefully.
When court was dismissed, Xie Yu and Shen Changyin walked out with the crowd.
"She didn't scold me. Not even a 'How dare you.'" Xie Yu stared ahead.
Shen Changyin also looked forward. "Strange."
Xie Yu said, "I'm definitely not just unloved."
Shen Changyin said, "Your background must be problematic."
The two exchanged a look.
"She conceived me while traveling incognito. Can your people investigate what happened there?"
"Your mother failed her first fight for the throne and was exiled to Jiangnan. She lay low for years before returning to the capital to kill her sisters and ascend. Jiangnan is her birthplace of power. She visited incognito there. She would never allow me to investigate it freely."
Xie Yu's voice grew firm. "Then start with the attendants from back then. Which of them are still in the capital?"
Talking as they went, the two boarded the carriage.
Soon, the carriage rumbled to a stop at the gates of the old Prime Minister's residence.
Xie Yu stepped down and found that the plaque was being replaced—soon this would officially become her princely estate.
She took a few steps when Little Flower came running happily to greet her, tail raised high, looking just like a stalk of foxtail grass.
She scooped the dog up and sniffed. The maid had bathed her. She waved at the maid behind the pup. "Thanks."
The maid bowed to both of them. "Your Highness, the steward and attendants assigned to you by the palace have arrived today."
"Good. Let them start working immediately." Xie Yu didn't want to meddle. Shen Changyin was still living here anyway—she could deal with it.
"What's for lunch?" Shen Changyin wasn't going to the government office today. Since they came back early, they were just in time for lunch.
"Black-bone chicken soup, steamed lion's head with rice powder, and cabbage stewed with beef. All already prepared. If you want anything else, the kitchen can make it."
Xie Yu walked into the main courtyard and saw that the locust flowers were already in full bloom. The whole tree was white, like clouds that had descended to earth, fragrant and lovely.
"Pick some locust flowers. And bring me a bronze stove, a grill plate, and charcoal. Slice the beef and pork thin. We're having grilled meat with locust blossoms for lunch." She decided on the spot.
"Right away!" The maid was delighted and hurried off.
Locust flowers had a faint fragrance. They cooked in just three to five seconds on the hot iron plate. Wrapped in thin slices of salted beef, they burst in the mouth, the floral fragrance merging with the beef's creamy richness.
Xie Yu let out an indescribable sigh. "Ah—"
She ate fast, like a gust of wind, and had devoured half a plate of beef in no time. Little Flower paced anxiously around her feet, whining, even performing a perfect sit.
Xie Yu didn't even look down. "Go find Auntie Shen."
Shen Changyin was calmly flipping the meat, one hand holding chopsticks, the other lifting her sleeve. Her movements elegant enough to belong in a painting.
Hearing that, she said, "Your Highness, I may not be as young as you, but perhaps the title 'Auntie' could be reconsidered?"
In the middle of her rapid eating, Xie Yu still found time to reply, "She's my kid. I'm her mom. You're my generation. If I don't call you Auntie, what do I call you?"
Also call me 'mom'?
Shen Changyin's gaze flickered. She glanced at the puppy, but didn't dare voice her thoughts, fearing Xie Yu would accuse her of flirting.
Little Flower seemed to understand Xie Yu's words and actually trotted to Shen Changyin's feet. When Shen looked down, the pup plopped her rear onto the ground, also performing a sit.
Shen Changyin couldn't help laughing.
In the end, she changed to a small plate and put a few slices of meat for the dog.
After dinner, Xie Yu took the dog for a walk. When she returned, the room had already been cleaned.
The candles were bright. The maids had opened the windows and brought in fruit to remove the lingering smell of grilled meat.
Shen Changyin was almost done resting. She had a large stack of documents delivered and the ink ground.
Xie Yu was used to this scene. She greeted her briefly and was about to head back to her room.
But—
"Your Highness." A smiling voice came from behind her.
She turned. Shen Changyin separated a thick portion of the documents and set them aside. "Since you have been granted a princely title, you should begin learning how to handle official duties."
Xie Yu's expression collapsed.
She sat at the desk, tapping her knuckles on the table to show she was serious.
"I'll repeat myself. Shen Changyin, I believe our dynamic should be this: you're the ambitious one, battling for power, earning money. I'm the idle one, lying around spending money, whose only job is to be happy—your delicate wife and part-time canary."
"Do you actually know what a canary means?"
"That's not important." Xie Yu waved her hand grandly.
Shen Changyin handed her a brush. "Your Highness, how could our relationship be unequal?"
"We entered a political marriage with three conditions. We're supposed to share power." She winked with her left eye at Xie Yu.
She could even wink. Not bad for someone from ancient times, Xie Yu thought.
She wagged her finger. "This isn't sharing power. This is sharing labor. You're trying to hurt me."
"Good night."
She stood up and bolted back to her room.
The puppy scampered after her.
Shen Changyin's lips curled faintly. She shook her head and returned to her documents.
—
Back in her room, Xie Yu did a few push-ups, stretched her muscles, then sat back at her desk.
She pulled out the little notebook she had written in yesterday, straightened her expression, and began seriously working on her "Red and Black List" of street food stalls in the capital. She thought she might become the first influencer food-blogger in ancient times.
[Sesame rice balls — Red. Fragrant, sweet, and crisp]
[Fried dough sticks — Black, the owner has a black heart and never changes the oil.]
[Mini wontons — Both red and black, delicious but the portion is tiny.]
[Shepherd's purse rice balls — Red…]
She filled two whole sheets before finishing her Red-and-Black Food List.
She put down the brush and thought for a moment that she really ought to treat her own life even more seriously than she treated food.
So she pulled out two more sheets and started writing a Red-and-Black List for people she had met after transmigrating.
Halfway through it turned into a To-Do List.
She began with the red list.
[The young soldier whose family raises pigs and whose surname is Zhu — Red. Her mother's pork smells amazing. I promised to teach her literacy and to read storybooks, so I must do it.]
Speaking of teaching literacy, she added the little beggar.
[Little beggar surnamed Zhang, fifteen — Red. I need to drag this one over to teach her to read too. ]
[Jiang Fang — Red. Make time to inspect the farming situation. ]
[Everyone in Jing Shui Village — Red. Visit often to avoid another fight with Li Village over the water source. ]
There were not many people on the red list, so she added in several customers who had treated her politely back when she was working as a wandering Taoist priest.
Near the end, she suddenly hesitated.
Should Shen Changyin be on this list?
Faced with difficulty, she drifted off immediately. She only snapped back to herself when a huge drop of ink splattered onto the paper from her brush.
She looked at the sand timer at her side and realized half a stick of incense had burned.
In the end she wrote:
[Shen Changyin — Barely counts as red.]
Then she pulled out a new sheet and began the blacklist.
She did not hesitate. Her brush flew like a divine revelation, and she wrote in giant characters on the first line:
[Shen Changyin — Black!!! This person is devious and sly, full of plots and schemes, forcibly seizes things from the author! Danger! Danger! ]
She drew several skulls next to Shen Changyin's name, though because she was bad at using a brush, the skulls came out as random blotches of ink.
Only then did she begin writing other people:
[The waiter who scammed me, the horse seller, the shop owner — Black! I'll gather evidence sooner or later and send them to prison! ]
[The magistrate who colluded with the scammers — Black! Black! Black! Think of a way to make Shen Changyin throw this woman, into prison! ]
[The prefectural lady who jailed beggars for no reason, and the officials of Jingzhao Prefecture — Extremely black! Impeach! I am a princess now, I can impeach! ]
[The gambling addict who stole her wife's jewelry to gamble — Blacklist! Patrol Little Sweetwater Alley more often to stop her from relapsing. ]
[Second Princess — It'd be better if she just died. ]
[First Princess —]
She thought for a while, crossed out the whole line for the First Princess, and left it blank for now since she had not seen any real flaws yet.
[The Empress —]
She hesitated again.
Of course the empress was terrible, obsessed with witchcraft trials, letting Taoists into court, selling off her daughters without blinking.
But she was not her biological mother or anyone who had personally harmed loyal subjects in front of her, so her anger did not fully ignite.
She relied on logic and wrote:
[The Empress — Support Shen Changyin in getting rid of her and taking the throne. But then I would be the empress? ]
She imagined herself holding hands with Shen Changyin, pretending to be loving, pretending to embody imperial grace.
A wave of disgust hit her.
She added a line:
[Support Shen Changyin in getting rid of the emperor after we divorce, then taking the throne. ]
[Old Jin — …]
She was writing enthusiastically when Shen Changyin knocked and entered.
"Your Highness, instead of helping me review memorials, what are you writing this time?"
Xie Yu did not even look up. "A death note."
Shen Changyin stepped forward and Xie Yu instantly raised her hand to cover her papers. "Privacy."
"How heartbreaking. I hold nothing back from Your Highness, yet Your Highness guards against me so deeply."
Xie Yu let out a cold laugh. "You hold nothing back from me?"
"Then tell me. What feud do you have with the Xie family? And why did you choose me?"
Shen Changyin did not answer. Instead she asked, "Why does Your Highness willingly manage the people and organize bandit suppression, yet recoil from power as if it were poisonous?"
The two looked at each other and exchanged insincere smiles.
After that day, Shen Changyin never again asked what Xie Yu was writing.
But she developed a new illness whenever she saw Xie Yu writing in her journal, she had to assign her more work.
Even though Xie Yu refused every single time, Shen Changyin still brought it up once every stick of incense.
Eventually Xie Yu felt too guilty to keep refusing.
So she had no choice but to hide.
Among the maids the palace had sent over was an eleven-year-old girl who loved to play, chasing little Hua around every day.
Xie Yu ended up making beanbags and other toys, spending her days playing with the child and the little dog.
That day, she was happily playing when Minister Zhang from the Ministry of Rites arrived with more items.
Redwood chests filled with wedding supplies were carried into Princess Jin's manor like flowing water.
Xie Yu and Shen Changyin stood at the gate and signed for them. Minister Zhang smiled as she pulled out two invitations.
"Tonight is the first grand night of Flower Moon. The night market in the capital will be lively, with street performances and vendors. The teahouses and restaurants will also prepare elegant entertainment fitting for your statuses, though most require invitations to enter."
"These two invitations will allow the two of you to enter any venue in the capital without restriction. Please accept them, and enjoy Flower Moon tonight."
A universal pass! Great stuff!
Xie Yu immediately took them. She was about to hand one to Shen Changyin when she noticed the numbers printed on the two invitations were identical.
"Why are these numbers the same? Are they real?"
Minister Zhang smiled with a touch of knowing ambiguity. "Flower Moon is a time for young women to meet, mingle and fall in love. Invitations for couples and those for single ladies are of course different. These two are for lovers."
Xie Yu blinked.
"With these two, the restaurants will provide an elegant private room suitable for lovers… ahem."
She covered her mouth with a fist and continued.
"I heard some private rooms do not have a bed, but instead lay a soft carpet on the floor and hang a huge mercury mirror from the ceiling. When night grows quiet, the room glows with reflections from above and below, creating quite an… experience."
Xie Yu froze.
By the time she processed what Minister Zhang was implying, her face flushed bright red.
The invitations instantly felt burning hot in her hands.
She stammered, "No no no… I would never never ever… with her her… w-wrong wrong wrong…"
She finally managed, "I… I have something to do, so I am not going."
Shen Changyin looked at her slowly.
She then faced Minister Zhang and nodded. "I will also be busy with official duties."
"In that case, please keep the invitations. You may use or discard them as you wish."
Minister Zhang departed with a smile.
"Your Highness…" Shen Changyin looked at her again. Her voice was low, gentle, like a clear spring deliberately suppressed, becoming rich and intoxicating like wine.
"You should know I was only speaking nonsense earlier."
She took the two invitations decorated with interlaced irises and gave them a light shake. The faint fragrance drifted upward like a breeze brushing Xie Yu's cheeks.
Shen Changyin watched her and spoke deliberately, word by word.
"Tonight, I have no official duties."
—
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