Steward Zhou caught a whiff of her overwhelming sour sweat smell and reluctantly led her to the fabric storeroom, opening several clothing chests and picking out two black guard robes.
Huo Qi Lang saw that this princely residence was well-stocked with supplies. Since good things were there for the taking, she flattered him: “Thank you for your trouble, Steward. Could you also give me one or two sets of undergarments to change into?”
Steward Zhou said: “Undergarments are made by one’s own family members. By convention, we don’t distribute them. Back in Chang’an, the palace maids could help with needlework, and at that time the Prince’s daily clothing was supplied by the Garment Bureau and the Dyeing Office. Now that we’ve come to this remote wasteland, the Princess Consort works day and night with her maids just to clothe him alone—where would she have the energy to make clothes for others?”
Huo Qi Lang pointed to an open chest: “I see what looks like undergarments in there.”
In order to find suitable clothes, many chests had been opened earlier. One of them was filled with brand-new colorful silk garments that at first glance looked like women’s clothing, but upon closer inspection were all men’s undergarments. Dyed colorful fabric cost many times more than natural-colored fabric. Ordinary people’s undergarments could only afford natural hemp color, and if they had some money, they’d spend it on outer garments. Yet this princely residence was so wealthy that they were willing to use colored fabric even for undergarments.
Steward Zhou said with a stern face: “Those were worn by the Prince. Originally they should all be disposed of and burned, but we’ve been busy preparing for funeral arrangements these past few days and delayed it. How could I possibly give them to you?”
Huo Qi Lang said regretfully: “They all look like brand-new fine garments. How can you bear to burn them?”
Steward Zhou said: “You don’t understand. The imperial family doesn’t wash clothes—no matter what silk or satin, they only wear it once when new. Moreover, colored fabric easily fades when washed. If anyone wore such washed old clothes, the court historians would record it. Now that we’ve been thrown to the frontier, being too frugal would attract attention—we must try to keep a low profile.”
From Chang’an to Youzhou, fabric throughout the realm was equivalent to copper coins and could be used directly for paying taxes or shopping, while precious metals like gold and silver had to be exchanged at money shops and couldn’t be spent casually. Burning new clothes was almost equivalent to burning money. Huo Qi Lang was amazed, thinking that such extravagant behavior was actually done for the sake of keeping a low profile.
She had always been good at reading people’s expressions and saying pleasing words, so she asked the steward to find some caps, sashes, and other items. Although she didn’t have Wei Da’s habit of taking things in passing, since she heard they were to be burned, she felt it was a waste. While Steward Zhou went to find things, she secretly took a moon-white undergarment from the chest and tucked it among the outer robes. The color was close to white, so she figured no one would notice if she wore it underneath.
Having received the reward money and obtained a batch of fine clothes, Huo Qi Lang was naturally delighted. She peered through the narrow window lattice into the adjacent room and saw bows and arrows, spear shafts, horizontal swords and other weapons inside, knowing it was the armory. Before she could speak, Steward Zhou preempted her:
“I don’t have the key to that room next door. Since you have your own weapons, I won’t issue you any others. The Military Commissioner is watching closely now—the Prince’s residence practically has to report to him even if we add a kitchen knife. If you’re enrolled in the palace guard roster, that would also have to be reported to the Commissioner’s office.”
He thought for a moment and smiled: “Why don’t we simply register you in the maidservants’ roster instead? This way we can avoid entanglements with outsiders and only need to inform the stewardess under Lady Li. The Steward won’t shortchange you.”
Huo Qi Lang laughed: “Whatever’s most convenient and trouble-free is fine. I just need to receive my wages.”
Steward Zhou thought to himself that this wandering knight had a big knife scar across her face that looked quite frightening, but her manner of speaking was refreshingly straightforward. He locked the storeroom, returned the keys, and arranged for her to eat in the small kitchen where the gatekeepers took their shifts.
Ordinary soldiers ate nothing more than rice, flour cakes, and pickled vegetables, but the treatment for Prince Shao’s personal guards was much better. The kitchen brought up a large copper plate containing half a sheep’s shoulder, along with sheep intestines, heart, liver, tripe and other offal. Huo Qi Lang used a dining knife to cut the meat into pieces, spread them flat on a large flatbread, mixed them with marinade and garlic juice, rolled it into a thick roll, and tore into it with big bites. Before long, she had devoured both the bread and meat completely.
After a hearty meal, she took a satisfying bath next door, washing away all the grime accumulated from twenty days of traveling day and night. Putting on new clothes, she felt refreshed and comfortable all over.
This moon-white silk undergarment fit perfectly at the shoulders, waist, and length—wearing it didn’t feel like something stolen, but rather as if a tailor had custom-made it for her. What a coincidence.
After washing her dirty clothes in the water, Huo Qi Lang walked out with wet hair, casually wrapped in her outer robe, carrying the wash basin under her arm. She wanted to pour the dirty water among the trees and shrubs in the courtyard, but Steward Zhou spotted her at a glance and shouted loudly: “Stop, stop, stop! How can you pour dirty water anywhere? All the plants in the courtyard are precious flowers—if you damage them, you couldn’t afford to compensate.”
He pointed to a well in the corner of the wall: “Pour the dirty water into the drainage well—it’s clean and odorless.”
Huo Qi Lang went over as instructed to pour the water. She saw that this drainage well was different from drinking water wells—it was covered with a stone slab carved with many small holes. Some chicken and duck bones, vegetable leaves, and melon rinds were scattered on top, with two sparrows perched there pecking at the vegetable scraps. When they saw someone approaching, they flew away.
In large cities like Chang’an and Luoyang, people dumped waste using open channels around the residential wards, which stank terribly in summer and swarmed with mosquitoes and flies. Therefore, wealthy households would dig such drainage wells in their own courtyards specifically for handling domestic wastewater. The well was a dry well with layers of pebbles and gravel laid inside for filtration. When dirty water was poured in, it slowly seeped underground and disappeared, while large pieces of kitchen waste were filtered out by the perforated stone slab and cleaned up regularly by servants.
Huo Qi Lang thought to herself that everything about clothing, food, housing, and transportation in such princely residences was different from commoners—she would inevitably need time to adapt. She silently noted this in her mind.
Steward Zhou chattered incessantly, but secretly marveled that this woman’s strength was so great. A wash basin full of water would require two or three strong men working together to lift, and they’d have to use small buckets to scoop water out bucket by bucket. Yet she could easily carry it under her arm and pour it out effortlessly.
He couldn’t help but sigh admiringly: “Your tremendous strength is truly rare. Have you practiced some profound martial arts?”
Huo Qi Lang laughed: “I was born this way—I never specifically practiced strength training.”
At sixteen, when she joined Remnant Sun Academy, Master Chen Shigu had assessed her talents. Whether she should learn the light and agile Mysterious Qi Innate Skill or the external hard training of Prajna Repentance left Chen Shigu quite hesitant, as her aptitude seemed quite suitable for either path. In the end, seeing that the top three senior brothers and sisters all practiced Mysterious Qi Innate Skill, Huo Qi Lang chose this internal skill as well.
After working hard for eight or nine years, her performance still ranked last among the Seven Absolutes. Sometimes she wondered if she had chosen the wrong path back then. However, she was naturally free-spirited and adaptable to circumstances. When such thoughts occasionally arose, they just lightly crossed her mind and were instantly forgotten—she never dwelt on them or felt regret.
Steward Zhou said: “I’ve already informed the inner quarters and arranged for you to stay in the East Courtyard. Go quickly to groom and dress properly so I can take you to pay respects to the various stewardesses in the inner courtyard.”
Huo Qi Lang inquired: “Who was that nanny in Prince Shao’s room? She seemed to be someone with authority.”
Steward Zhou said solemnly: “That is the Prince’s wet nurse, Lady Li. Don’t you dare regard her as an ordinary mama—she comes from a prominent family in Fanyang Commandery, holds the title of Lady of Yanmen Commandery, and is a third-rank external court lady.”
Huo Qi Lang thought to herself that to get through the palace guard defenses into Prince Shao’s quarters, she’d first need this wet nurse’s approval. She was indeed a person with real power. She continued probing: “Then who is actually the head mistress in the residence?”
“This…” Steward Zhou was taken aback by the question, showing a troubled expression, not knowing how to answer.
By status, naturally Prince Shao’s principal wife, Princess Consort Cui from the prestigious Qinghe Cui clan, should take precedence. However, Prince Shao and the Princess Consort had a poor relationship and never stayed in the same place. The Prince’s daily life and meals were all managed by Lady Li in the East Courtyard, whose prestige and seniority in the Prince’s residence were higher, sometimes making the Princess Consort in the West Courtyard seem superfluous. Moreover, the Tang imperial family had always respected wet nurses, and by filial duty, Lady Li was considered an elder.
The two mistresses appeared harmonious on the surface but actually conflicted with each other. Even the household-born slaves felt troubled by these matters. As a minor steward, how could he explain it all clearly in a short time? So he urged repeatedly: “Never mind which mistress is greater—they’re all masters anyway. When you see them, just bow your head and pay respects. Hurry up and dress properly, get your luggage, and I’ll take you to the inner quarters.”
Huo Qi Lang carried the empty basin back to her room, twisted her hair into a simple topknot, put on the black guard robe, wrapped a red sash with scrolling grass patterns around her waist several times, and when everything was properly arranged, she wiped the dust from her sword scabbard to reveal the sharkskin’s luster, then inserted the sword at her waist.
She packed all her luggage and belongings into the paulownia wood chest she had just received, tucked it under her arm, strode out of the room, and asked with a slight smile: “Where has the steward arranged for me to stay?”
Steward Zhou was immediately dumbstruck. After washing away the dust and grime and changing into proper clothing, this masculine-looking female wandering knight actually exuded a distinctive charm. Not to mention in Youzhou—even in Chang’an, she would not be inferior to any young gentleman from Wuling or any son of a wealthy family.
Steward Zhou felt uneasy, secretly wondering whether he should really arrange such a person among the female family members and maidservants. For some reason, it seemed quite improper.
The inner quarters wouldn’t allow it, and if he brought this person there, he’d probably get a severe scolding. If he arranged her not by gender but by position, placing her in the long house where the guards lived, that would be too much of an insult.
“The inner quarters won’t work… the long house won’t work either…”
Steward Zhou hesitated for a long time, then suddenly had an inspiration: “How about this—I’ll find you a bed in the eunuch quarters. They’re all disarmed people there. You won’t bother them, and they can’t do anything to you.”
Huo Qi Lang immediately pulled a long face and firmly refused by shaking her head: “No thanks. I’d rather smell men’s stinky feet than get contaminated by the urine stench from eunuchs.”
Steward Zhou quickly stopped her: “Shh, keep it down—they hold grudges.”
The two of them stood on either side of the courtyard gate, arguing about where she should stay, when an eighteen or nineteen-year-old maidservant approached, greeted Steward Zhou, and said: “Lady Li says to have the newcomer stay in the Prince’s room and take turns with the palace guards on night duty.”
Huo Qi Lang poked her head out from inside the courtyard. Seeing that the maidservant was pretty, she casually smiled at her and asked: “Are you from the Prince’s quarters? What’s your name?”
The maidservant was startled and immediately lowered her eyes to look at the ground, saying: “No, I belong to Lady Li. My name is Caifang…”
Steward Zhou recognized her as one of Lady Li’s personal maids who was usually quite spirited. Seeing her reaction, he secretly thought it was indeed right not to let Huo Qi mix with the maidservants in the inner quarters.
Since those above had directly decided the arrangement, it saved him from the difficulty. Steward Zhou breathed a sigh of relief and said to Huo Qi Lang: “In Chang’an, there was no custom of guards spending the night indoors. This is a frontier custom—the Military Commissioner fears his subordinate generals might rebel, so they all keep a group of personal guards and soldiers. Even beside one’s bed, there must be someone standing guard.”
Caifang said: “Lady Li says that since this knight arrived, the Prince’s condition has improved, so she requests that she move in to ward off evil influences at close range.”
Author’s Note:
The textile dyeing techniques of that time were not yet advanced enough. Colored fabrics would easily fade and lose their luster after washing. Emperors and empresses “wearing washed clothes” was considered so frugal it could be recorded in history books, perhaps similar to many luxury items today that cannot be washed and can only be worn once.
Drainage wells were not environmentally friendly—they just let wastewater seep into underground water layers. This didn’t matter for short periods (a span of one or two hundred years), but over many years would pollute groundwater. Cities that had been used for several hundred years usually had problems with “well water being salty and bitter, difficult to drink,” leading to the need for relocation. Therefore, after the Song dynasty, this ancient sewage disposal method was rarely used.