When Huo Qi Lang arrived at the western inner residence, the courtyard was bustling with activity.

Over a dozen women were pounding silk under the covered walkway. Raw silk woven into “jian” fabric had a coarse and hard texture, requiring soaking in water, boiling, and repeated beating and pounding to soften the fibers. Cloth treated this way became soft and white, suitable for making comfortable garments that fit close to the skin. This processed fabric was called “lian” (refined silk).

Four people surrounded a large copper basin, holding wooden pestles in both hands to pound the soaked white silk. After the fabric was softened, it was hung to dry until half-dry, then two women would stretch the long fabric taut at both ends while another person used an iron to smooth out the wrinkles created by the pounding process. Once completely dry, it could be rolled into bolts of finished silk fabric.

These women were of various ages. Though they were servants, their clothing was extraordinary. Each wore an elaborate hairstyle and beautiful silk scarves draped over their shoulders. They looked completely different from the impoverished women Huo Qi had seen pounding silk on the streets.

The wealthy and respectable attire of these women, combined with the various precious colored silks hanging to dry under the walkway, created a dazzling sight. Huo Qi Lang secretly speculated that the Prince’s beautiful clothes were crafted through these processes, made with such meticulous care.

The women had been chatting and laughing, but when Nanny Xu appeared, their voices quieted. Xu Shi was the head housekeeper of the western courtyard, known for her strict management. The women dared not be boisterous in her presence, speaking cautiously and keeping their heads down as they worked.

Nanny Xu supervised them, saying, “Don’t spill water everywhere. If the floorboards get soaked, they’ll warp and bulge.”

Huo Qi Lang asked, “Why is all the fabric hung in the shade under the walkway? The sun is so bright today – it would dry quickly if hung in the open.”

Nanny Xu glanced at her coldly and pointed her chin toward several ill-intentioned crows perched on the eaves, saying, “Look there. We’re afraid those mischievous creatures will deliberately cause trouble. The Princess Consort is a lover of cleanliness and absolutely cannot tolerate things contaminated by filth.”

Huo Qi Lang immediately understood, thinking to herself that regardless of whether these black crows brought good or bad omens, their behavior was truly detestable.

The heavy items she was asked to move were several large sacks of bath beans. All supplies for the inner residence were purchased uniformly by the outer residence and then distributed to the women of each courtyard. Huo Qi Lang thought to herself that with so many bath beans, there would be enough to stock and sell in a shop. It was clear that the women in this courtyard truly loved cleanliness, with consumption levels that were staggering.

The work wasn’t particularly extensive. After finishing, Huo Qi Lang was pondering what excuse she could use to linger longer in the inner residence when Nanny Xu ladled a bowl of tea from a steaming kettle and handed it to her, pointing to an empty spot in the courtyard and saying, “An important person wants to meet you. Stand there and wait to serve tea.”

Huo Qi Lang was puzzled but took the nearly overflowing tea bowl and stood in the courtyard as instructed. Nearby was the stove used for heating the silk-pressing irons, where a thirteen or fourteen-year-old maid crouched under the walkway, fanning the fire.

After Nanny Xu had walked away, the girl quietly asked Huo Qi, “What did you do wrong? Are you being punished to stand here and learn proper behavior?”

Huo Qi Lang asked in confusion, “Learn what proper behavior?”

The little maid said sympathetically, “Holding a scalding hot bowl and standing in the sun as punishment – that’s learning proper behavior. You must have done something wrong and angered the nanny to receive such punishment.”

Hearing this, Huo Qi Lang couldn’t help but laugh, thinking that even punishments in this princely mansion were rather endearing – much better than practicing horse stance in heavy snow for three days and nights. She blew on the hot tea in the bowl and took a light sip, tasting the fragrant mixture of butter and honey that had been boiled in. She thought to herself: If I have the chance to come here and “learn proper behavior” regularly in the future, it would actually be quite pleasant.

So she leisurely drank her tea while chatting with the little maid, laughing as she said, “I’ve indeed done quite a few bad things, but not in this western courtyard – I did them in the Prince’s quarters.”

When Cui Lingrong emerged with Xu Shi, Huo Qi Lang, who was supposedly being punished by standing in the courtyard, had already become familiar with the silk-pounding women and was holding an empty bowl, chatting animatedly with them.

Xu Shi looked embarrassed. Princess Consort Cui said quietly, “I told you earlier not to use such methods. She’s a wanderer of the martial world, completely different from us inner residence women. How could such ridiculous tricks possibly subdue her?”

Xu Shi whispered, “The Prince can already go out to visit the Jing family. If we don’t act soon, I’m afraid…”

Cui Lingrong said calmly, “I’ve already waited for him this long – why should I be anxious now? Just be patient and make inquiries.”

Seeing Princess Consort Cui appear, the women in the courtyard immediately stopped their work and bowed to her in respect. Cui Lingrong walked gracefully through the corridor, meticulously inspecting the silk-pounding process, and said to everyone, “Before and after working, you must wash your hands thoroughly. I will not permit even the slightest contamination on the fabric.”

Everyone bowed their heads in acknowledgment. Princess Consort Cui glanced at Huo Qi Lang under the walkway. Understanding the cue, she stepped forward, placed the bowl on the steps, and cupped her hands in a casual salute, looking up with a smile and saying, “Huo Qi greets the Princess Consort.”

Princess Consort Cui made no response and turned to walk toward the interior, her steps neither hurried nor slow. Huo Qi Lang then jumped onto the walkway to follow, observing her straight back and graceful movements that were dignified and elegant, pleasing to behold. Huo Qi couldn’t help but wonder secretly: Had the Princess Consort’s lover also come to Youzhou? In such a strictly guarded mansion, how did they manage to meet?

Cui Lingrong’s living quarters were spotlessly clean, so immaculate that every surface could reflect a person’s image. As soon as they entered, Nanny Xu instructed, “Wash your hands before entering the room.”

Huo Qi Lang was slightly startled, noticing a somewhat aged silver basin by the door with a glass bowl nearby filled with bath beans. She thought to herself that though this couple had a cold and distant relationship, their living habits were quite similar. Every time she came within three feet of Li Yuanying, he would invariably ask: “Have you washed your hands? Have you bathed?” In just one month of serving at Prince Shao’s mansion, she had used more bath beans than in the entire first half of her life.

Huo Qi Lang sighed silently and bent down to scoop water, but then noticed a faint pattern of mounted warriors at the bottom of the basin. The basin suddenly filled with thick, bloody water. Huo Qi’s breathing caught and she nearly drew her sword, but after a moment she calmed down and realized it was just an ordinary basin of clear water.

The foreign warriors at the bottom of the basin were different from Central Plains Chinese soldiers – they wore chain mail and tower-like helmets decorated with bird feathers. These details were all too familiar to her.

Huo Qi Lang recalled Madam Li’s Persian gold vessels. These noble ladies possessed many treasures from foreign lands. Perhaps they themselves didn’t understand what the bird-feather-helmeted warriors at the bottom of the basin represented. So she suppressed her disgust and silently washed her hands without asking any questions.

Princess Consort Cui sat upright on the couch and had a servant bring a crescent-shaped stool, politely inviting Huo Qi Lang to sit. She began by apologizing: “My wet nurse is old and confused. Though I asked her to invite you here to help, she was discourteous to you. This is due to my poor management of subordinates. Please, considering her advanced age, don’t hold it against her.”

Huo Qi Lang smiled and said, “The nanny treated me very well. I’m actually hoping to come again in the future.”

Sitting face-to-face with Princess Consort Cui, Huo Qi recalled that burning, intense gaze that had been so stunning during their first meeting. Now it had returned to calmness, like a pool of still well water. Cui Lingrong picked up a half-finished garment beside her and continued her needlework with downcast eyes – it was a diamond-patterned gauze sleeping robe.

Born into the prestigious Cui clan of Qinghe, her every word and action displayed the gentle refinement of a well-bred lady, completely different from the women Huo Qi Lang had encountered before. Despite all those luxurious meals, Cui Lingrong remained slender – even the silk-pounding women outside were more full-figured than she. Her words carried a sense of helpless loneliness that naturally aroused protective feelings.

“My husband’s health has improved greatly recently. Everyone in the mansion says you brought good fortune and helped ward off evil influences for him. I should thank you properly for this. It’s just… inconvenient. My husband refuses to see me, so I can only inquire about his daily life and meals through others. It’s quite ridiculous.”

Huo Qi Lang thought that the Canliang Courtyard had always been considered unlucky and ominous in the Central Plains, but here in the northern frontier, their reputation had completely reversed – truly a change of fortune.

She said modestly, “The Prince is blessed by auspicious stars and protected by divine mandate. I’m just a wandering martial artist – all I can do is stand guard for him. It’s only natural that the Princess Consort wants to know about the Prince’s affairs. You should talk to him more directly. Don’t worry about whether he drives you away – just sit there and don’t leave. As they say in the marketplace, ‘A persistent woman can win over even a fierce man,’ and the reverse is equally true.”

Cui Lingrong’s needle paused for a moment, revealing a trace of helplessness: “He refuses to forgive me for past matters. My persistence would be useless.”

Huo Qi Lang immediately understood. Li Yuanying had once said, “She has her person, I have mine,” with extreme coldness in his tone. It seemed the suggestion of “each playing their own game” hadn’t been his idea first. When Cui Lingrong mentioned “past matters,” she had probably already parted ways with her lover.

“Men’s jealousy is even more intense.”

“Men’s jealousy is very strong.”

Surprisingly, both Cui Shi and Huo Qi spoke similar words simultaneously. Both were startled, and the atmosphere relaxed somewhat.

Cui Lingrong took the opportunity to ask, “Youzhou’s climate is much colder than Chang’an’s, and winter comes earlier. Has my husband added more clothing? Is he wearing single robes now or has he put on fur coats? What medicines is he taking recently? Are there new physicians caring for him?”

Huo Qi Lang answered truthfully. She continued inquiring about his diet, expressing concern for his wellbeing in minute detail, her eyes and tone filled with earnest care. Thinking of this couple’s relationship as strangers, it was even more pitiful.

Huo Qi Lang couldn’t help but offer gentle advice: “Though they say ‘new clothes are not as good as old, and new people are not as good as old friends,’ that doesn’t necessarily mean old things are better – sometimes we just can’t bear to discard them due to limited means. If you get something brand new, you’ll gradually forget the old. There’s no need to be obsessed.”

Cui Lingrong gripped the gauze in her hands tighter and tighter, saying softly, “I’ve repeatedly tried to convince myself of this, but I just can’t let go or forget. If I could easily forget my feelings, life would be so much easier.”

With the Cui family’s noble status, even if divorced and remarried, she could find an excellent new husband. Yet she insisted on staying in Youzhou, which showed her extraordinarily stubborn character. Huo Qi Lang had encountered such lovers who refused to part peacefully more than once – the hot-tempered ones would even seek death, making them extremely difficult to handle.

But then again, faced with Prince Shao’s extraordinary beauty, she herself was willing to risk staying at the mansion, so she had no right to criticize Princess Consort Cui’s devoted heart. The next one might be more obedient, but couldn’t possibly be more beautiful.

After absent-mindedly chatting with Princess Consort Cui for a while, Huo Qi Lang watched her delicate hands threading the needle, finding them more and more beautiful and feeling quite envious. Wanting to tell some jokes to cheer her up, she tentatively said, “Huo Qi learned some bone-reading fortune-telling tricks from my master – street performer skills with decent accuracy that can amuse people. Would the Princess Consort like to try?”

Cui Lingrong was puzzled and asked, “How does one read bones?”

Huo Qi Lang answered readily, “Just holding hands and examining the palm bones and finger joints.”

Cui Shi thought for a moment and said to Nanny Xu, “Very well, it’s time to set out the meal anyway. Let’s play once and eat together.” She put down her needlework and had someone bring water to wash her hands.

Then two maids approached – one holding a basin, the other carrying bath beans, towels, hand cream and other items. Cui Lingrong carefully washed her hands, dried them thoroughly, and applied fragrant protective cream before indicating with her eyes for Huo Qi Lang to approach.

Huo Qi smiled and stepped forward to take her soft, warm hand. This was one of her best tricks for getting close to people. Strangers inevitably had defensive barriers, but once hands were held and skin touched, this instinctive resistance would soften. By discussing vague topics about fate and destiny, she could quickly become familiar with people.

However, today she hadn’t even thought of what to say when, just as their hands clasped, Cui Lingrong’s expression suddenly changed.

Huo Qi Lang was confused and looked down carefully, silently cursing her bad luck. When she had extended her hand, the narrow sleeve of her outer robe had pulled back, exposing an edge of her inner garment’s sleeve – just an inch wide. Unfortunately, she was wearing the stolen old garment today. Though it had been washed until faded, the border stitching and embroidery remained unchanged.

The traces of needlework were like a martial artist’s signature moves – each had unique techniques. Outsiders couldn’t recognize them, but the person who had personally made the garment could identify it at a glance.

Seeing this sleeve edge, Cui Shi’s face immediately turned deathly pale and her hands began trembling. She suddenly stood up from the couch, pushed Huo Qi Lang away, and after a moment’s hesitation, squeezed out words through her pale lips: “Leave!”

Huo Qi knew her secret was exposed and there was no chance for explanation. She could only withdraw from the room.

The silk-pounding women in the courtyard had all left, leaving only the colorful silks swaying in the breeze. Two elderly eunuchs carried away the silk-pounding implements, pouring the remaining water used for soaking fabric into a drainage well.

The courtyard was quiet. Huo Qi Lang heard a crow on the eaves above cry “caw” once, feeling a sense of melancholy and loss.