What fell to the ground was a coiled braid of hair. To be precise, two braids—one black as ink, smooth and glossy; the other pale in color, rough and coarse.
But now, the two strands of hair had been woven into one, intertwined strand by strand.
Seeing Jiang Zhiyi’s hand trembling as she clutched her handkerchief, Jing Zhe hurriedly stepped forward to stroke her back: “Princess, please don’t worry yet. This sachet may not truly be any special prescription. Remember when the footboard broke? You didn’t sprain your foot. The novel only came half-true then, didn’t it? Perhaps the Young Master only used your hair to symbolize a romantic connection…”
“Only?” Jiang Zhiyi raised her eyebrows, trembling even more violently.
“I misspoke… That’s right, it’s just… just a toad wanting to eat swan meat. How revolting!”
Jiang Zhiyi tossed the handkerchief to the ground and took a gentle deep breath, her index finger tapping her temple.
Jing Zhe moved behind her and began massaging her temples.
“Did anyone see you take it?” Jiang Zhiyi asked.
“Rest assured, I had someone take it on the street. The Young Master didn’t notice at all at the time. He only discovered the sachet was missing after returning to the estate and is now hurrying to Madam’s Huifeng Courtyard.”
Jiang Zhiyi opened her eyes.
Jing Zhe asked: “Shall we go and take a look?”
After washing the filth from her hands and changing into warmer attire, Jiang Zhiyi took a sedan chair from Yaoguang Pavilion.
Traveling along corridors, across bridges, around mountains, and through groves, servants along the way saw the gold-decorated, painted sedan chair and unexpectedly stopped their cleaning to stand respectfully along the path.
Though the Princess had lived in the Marquis’s Estate for nearly ten years, she rarely interacted with the household members.
In earlier days, it had been better—the Marquis often led the young Princess to visit other courtyards. Later, when the Marquis frequently left on official business, the Princess lived alone in the western section that the Marquis had specially set aside for her, living her quiet days independently, growing distant even from the Madam.
Those in the outer courtyards might not see the Princess more than a few times throughout the year.
The sedan chair bobbed over a series of moon gates until it reached the entrance of Huifeng Courtyard.
Through the wind came the intermittent sound of a woman’s complaining voice: “I told you… Yesterday was already the full term… You should have put it away carefully…”
A young man’s voice argued: “I just thought the longer it’s worn, the better the effect…”
“The Princess has arrived!” A sharp-eyed maidservant called out loudly from inside the courtyard.
The man and woman who had been speaking immediately fell silent.
Jiang Zhiyi’s lips pressed into a straight line. With one hand clutching her hand warmer and the other resting on a maid’s arm, she stepped down from the sedan chair.
“Why has the Princess suddenly come? Is there some urgent matter?” the maidservant asked with a smile as she approached.
Jiang Zhiyi walked straight ahead, eyes fixed forward.
Following behind, Jing Zhe gave the maidservant a smile that didn’t reach her eyes: “Nanny Chai, you make it sound as if our Princess cannot come without a reason.”
“How could that be! The Madam was just thinking of the Princess early this morning, saying it’s been quite a while since she’s seen you…” Nanny Chai hurried to catch up, glancing into the main hall before them, then diligently lifted the door curtain.
The quarreling inside had stopped.
The woman seated in the place of honor wore a long blue satin jacket with five-colored gold embroidery, golden hairpins adorning her hair, and gold pearl earrings—truly the picture of dignified wealth. However, having just been shouting, she now appeared somewhat flushed and flustered.
Seeing Jiang Zhiyi enter, Madam Zhong composed herself and smiled: “What brings Zhiyi here?”
“I’ve come to chat with Aunt,” Jiang Zhiyi answered casually, glancing at the man seated in the lower position.
Today, Fang Zongming wore a sapphire-blue round-collared robe meant to boost his vigor. Unfortunately, with his waxy yellow, sagging face, the noble color only made him appear more lifeless. Only his murky eyes lit up the moment she crossed the threshold.
Jiang Zhiyi suppressed the nausea rising within her and raised her hand to loosen the ties of her cloak.
Fang Zongming rushed forward to take it: “Cousin, let me help.”
Jiang Zhiyi flicked the edge of her cloak, avoiding his hand, and let her maid take the cloak and hand warmer instead.
Madam Zhong quickly gave Fang Zongming a meaningful look.
Fang Zongming coughed lightly as he sat back down, defiantly crossing his legs.
His cousin always maintained that same chin-up, looking-down-on-others attitude. After nearly ten years, she still remained aloof.
Unfortunately, no matter how noble and dignified she might be, eventually she would still have to yield to a man.
Now that day wasn’t far off. He was merely being affectionate with her in advance—what was the big deal?
Madam Zhong laughed cordially to smooth things over: “Your aunt was just chatting with your cousin.”
Jiang Zhiyi sat down in a rosewood chair, accepting the hot tea brought by a servant. With a deft turn of her wrist, she used the lid to skim the tea froth: “What conversation was so urgent that it made Aunt so angry?”
“Nothing important. Your cousin was just being disobedient, so I scolded him a bit.” Madam Zhong glanced at her son. “Look, now your cousin thinks it’s amusing.”
“As long as it’s nothing serious. On my way here, I saw people from my eldest cousin’s courtyard hurrying out, saying they needed to find something. I thought perhaps the household had been robbed.”
Madam Zhong’s face froze.
Fang Zongming’s crossed leg dropped as he swallowed nervously, exchanging a glance with his mother.
Madam Zhong’s eyes flickered momentarily before she forced a smile and pointed at her son: “Isn’t this exactly why I was scolding him! Your cousin went out today and lost a safety amulet I obtained for him last month. He doesn’t know where he dropped it, so he had to send people searching everywhere!”
“It’s just a safety amulet. If it’s lost, can’t you simply get another one?”
“This amulet was obtained with great difficulty from Master Jianwei. There won’t be a second one!” Madam Zhong reproachfully glanced at her son.
Fang Zongming hurriedly added: “Yes, yes, cousin, do you remember? Our grandmother also greatly valued Master Jianwei during her lifetime…”
“Our grandmother?” Jiang Zhiyi’s face turned cold. “My grandmother was the Princess Imperial of Ding’an. Who exactly is the eldest cousin referring to?”
“What nonsense are you talking about!” Madam Zhong glared at her son through gritted teeth, then turned to apologize with a smile. “Don’t listen to your cousin’s rambling mouth.”
“If it’s such a precious safety amulet, it should be worn at all times. Why did Aunt tell the eldest cousin to put it away?”
“Master Jianwei said it should be worn for thirty days and then put away. Only then would it ensure peace and health.”
Jiang Zhiyi paused in her tea-skimming motion.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Jiang Zhiyi slowly tightened her grip on the teacup, setting it down on the small table. “I just find it strange. It must have been troublesome for the eldest cousin.”
Fang Zongming’s tension dissipated, and he raised an eyebrow smugly: “See? Cousin also says these practices are strange. I said, naturally, the longer the amulet is worn, the safer one becomes. If worn a few more days, perhaps not only will I be safe and healthy, but I might also have a perfect marriage and win a beautiful bride!”
Madam Zhong looked at him with hatred: “Instead of wasting time with idle talk, hurry and find that thing!”
“With the Marquis away on southern business… they must have gone mad!” Even after escorting Jiang Zhiyi back to Yaoguang Pavilion, Jing Zhe still found it unbelievable.
She originally didn’t believe such evil practices existed in the world, but after the Princess’s probe, not only could they confirm the prescription was real, but also that the full month had been completed, and it was about to take effect.
According to the novel, from now on, the Princess would gradually fall in love with the eldest young master, and with him…
Jiang Zhiyi had reached the same thought, remembering the words “union of water and milk” in the novel, and covered her churning stomach.
Jing Zhe quickly poured her a cup of hot tea, wanting to curse but feeling that no curse could relieve her anger.
Though the Princess had been living in the Marquis’s Estate for years, she had her inheritance from the Duke of Ning and had never relied on the estate financially.
On the contrary, because of the Princess’s blood ties to the imperial family and the Duke of Ning’s past achievements, the Marquis Estate had gained substantial income over the years, and the Marquis’s official rank had risen accordingly.
Moreover, every year, Yaoguang Pavilion received numerous gifts of gold, silver, jade, and fine silks. Whenever the cousins showed the slightest interest, the Princess would merely nod her chin and give it away.
Some people, knowing the Princess’s proud nature and unwillingness to haggle over small profits, exploited the debt of kindness year after year, plotting how to suck the Princess’s blood. Now they wouldn’t even spare her person!
Jing Zhe said, “Princess, let’s burn this inauspicious thing from the sachet right away. Let’s see how this evil can work then!”
Jiang Zhiyi drank a cup of hot tea, finally feeling the chill subside somewhat. She frowned and waved her hand, signaling Jing Zhe to proceed.
But as she watched the braid approach the candle flame, she felt something was wrong: “Wait.”
If they burned it, wouldn’t that just mean the ashes would remain together?
What if she died and still couldn’t be separated from this filthy thing!
Jiang Zhiyi stopped Jing Zhe, telling her to first put the braid away properly. Thinking the novel might contain a solution, she retrieved “The Tale of Yiyi” from the book box to read again.
In the novel, after the aunt’s special prescription took effect, Yiyi and her lover’s situation took a sudden downturn—
The border region suddenly reported danger. Yiyi’s lover, being from a military family, hurriedly departed for the front lines to defend against enemies, inevitably separating from Yiyi.
The aunt was overjoyed and took the opportunity to discuss a marriage of good fortune with her son.
Yiyi accidentally overheard the mother and son’s private conversation. Only then did she realize how cruel this family was. But because she was dependent on them, she dared not openly confront them. She could only secretly find a Taoist priest to ask how to break the spell.
The priest said it wasn’t difficult—she only needed to personally cut the braid with an extremely yang, extremely fierce weapon.
Yiyi thought about it: Hadn’t her lover just gone to war? When he returned victorious, his blood-bathed battlefield sword would be her talisman. Her love for her beloved was stronger than gold. She would certainly guard her heart until then and never betray him!
“…”
Jiang Zhiyi looked up at her golden chamber.
She had seventeen or eighteen stones of jade and gems more precious than gold, but a lover stronger than gold might not yet exist in this world. Who could she rely on to guard her heart? And from whom could she obtain a blood-bathed battlefield weapon?
Jiang Zhiyi pondered while continuing to turn the pages.
In the novel, the Taoist priest offered no further guidance, and the text didn’t mention the prescription again. It only described how Yiyi was heartbroken after her lover’s departure, suffering from lovesickness, waiting daily for news of victory from the border.
As the remaining pages grew thinner and the border conflict showed no signs of ending, Jiang Zhiyi turned the pages faster, increasingly feeling that something was wrong.
When she finally reached the last page, a small line of text jumped out—
End of Volume One. To learn what happens next, please read Volume Two.
“…”
When Gu Yu brought tea maids in to add fresh tea, she saw Jiang Zhiyi emptying a stack of novels from the book box.
“What is Princess looking for?” Gu Yu couldn’t recognize many characters. “Should I call Jing Zhe to help?”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Jiang Zhiyi scanned the stack of books, understanding immediately.
There was no second volume in the box.
Not only had Three Surplus Bookshop sent her an unlucky novel, but it was also incomplete.
Was her patronage from Yaoguang Pavilion so easily earned?
Jiang Zhiyi glanced at the late hour outside the window and set her face sternly: “Prepare the carriage. Tomorrow morning we’ll visit Three Surplus Bookshop.”
“This servant will arrange it right away.”
“Is the Princess going out tomorrow?” a tea maid reminded from the side. “This servant just came from outside and heard there will be a major event in the city tomorrow.”
“What event?”
“That war-god general from the Western River who won a victory—it seems he’s returning to the capital tomorrow.”
“Oh?” Jiang Zhiyi gave her a sidelong glance. “So his return is a major event, but Princess Yongying going out is not?”
“The Princess’s affairs are certainly important too, but I fear the streets will be crowded and packed, making it difficult for carriages to pass…”
“Are you saying I should stay in the estate tomorrow and make way for that…” Jiang Zhiyi suddenly paused. “Which victorious general did you mention?”
“The one who left the capital three years ago, from the Shen family—”
“You mean that show-off who rides his horse through the streets, has no proper behavior, fights cocks, races dogs, and shares the same foul taste as my eldest cousin?” Jiang Zhiyi spoke as if hearing something amusing. “What did you just call him? Some kind of god?”
The tea maid was left speechless.
Gu Yu, suddenly realizing, pulled away this tactless maid: “Look how ignorant you are! These days, can anyone who’s been in the military be called a war god? That young master from the Shen family is such an improper person—how could he fight in any war? Is he even worth the Princess’s attention? Whenever our Princess’s carriage goes out, doesn’t everyone step aside? People always make way for the Princess. Who would dare crowd her?”
The next morning, sitting in the slowly crawling carriage, listening to the tumultuous voices outside the window and seeing Jiang Zhiyi’s frost-covered expression, Gu Yu wanted to slap herself.
When they first left Chongren Ward, everything had been fine. She had been flattering the Princess, saying she had only heard of top scholars parading the streets, never of prodigal sons doing so, proving yesterday’s tea maid was exaggerating.
Though the Princess hadn’t responded, judging by her expression, Gu Yu’s flattery seemed to have landed well.
Who would have thought that upon reaching the outer streets, someone would beat a gong and shout that the generals returning from the border were about to enter the city? People from every corner flooded out, making the main street completely impassable.
Young women carried armfuls of flowers, children sat on adults’ shoulders, clapping their hands and chattering, strong men brought their entire families to secure higher ground. As far as the eye could see, the street was filled with moving heads.
In this situation, forget the Princess—even the Supreme Elderly Lord couldn’t control this crowd.
The sea of people parted in one place only to converge in another. The large carriage was like a lonely boat fallen into the vast ocean, unable to move forward or turn back.
Jiang Zhiyi sat in the carriage with closed eyes, her brow clouded with dark thoughts. She hadn’t spoken for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.
A stick of incense ago, seeing the situation deteriorating, Jing Zhe had suggested that she walk to the bookshop while Gu Yu accompanied Jiang Zhiyi to a nearby teahouse to rest.
However, even after that time, the carriage still hadn’t reached the teahouse that looked so “nearby.”
In this difficult situation, a snoring sound suddenly mixed with the buzzing noise.
Jiang Zhiyi gently opened her eyes to see the yellow furry ball in her arms sleeping soundly through the commotion.
This morning, as she was leaving, the fox had clung to her. Remembering that she had wrongly neglected it because of the cut hair incident, and feeling sorry for it, she had brought it along.
Now, while she couldn’t find peace, it was perfectly carefree.
“You’ve come specially to annoy me today, haven’t you?” Jiang Zhiyi picked up the cat and handed it to Gu Yu.
As she lowered her head to arrange her fur-covered skirt, a group of burly men suddenly pushed and shoved toward the carriage.
The carriage shook, causing the ornament on Jiang Zhiyi’s head to tilt. Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, began to tremble.
Even during the capital’s grandest triennial parade for the new top scholar, there had never been such a scrambling scene.
What virtues did this Shen possess that made people ignore even the carriage of a royal princess just to catch a glimpse of him?
What had the tea maid called him yesterday? A war god?
Yes… After three years’ absence, she had almost forgotten how the Shen family’s prodigal son could be considered a “god.”
He was nothing but an undeniable plague god!
Gu Yu frantically helped Jiang Zhiyi fix her hairpin, then stood up to look out the window. Just as she was about to remind the escort guards to be careful, she suddenly saw a familiar figure moving against the crowd.
“Princess, Jing Zhe is back!” Gu Yu exclaimed with delight.
Jiang Zhiyi raised her eyes.
“Fortunately, I got the novel you wanted to see. Today’s trip hasn’t been in vain. You can read it in the carriage to ease your mind. I’m sure the Imperial Guards clearing the way will arrive soon.”
Jiang Zhiyi managed an “Mmm,” her expression finally improving slightly.
The carriage door opened, and Jing Zhe jumped in, panting.
Jiang Zhiyi held out her hand but received nothing.
Jing Zhe said, “Princess, the shopkeeper at Three Surplus Bookshop says this book isn’t from their store.”
“What do you mean? Wasn’t this book in the box their shopkeeper sent?”
“But they examined the end of the volume and confirmed there’s no bookshop seal. Now we can only wait for the owner to return and provide an explanation.”
“Where is the owner?”
“The owner…” Jing Zhe swallowed nervously and pointed outside. “He also went to see General Shen’s triumphant return…”
“…”