It was a Lantern Festival night. Her fiancé Wang Ning was waiting for her at the door of the Hu family bookshop, carrying a rabbit lantern.

According to Nanjing custom, on Lantern Festival nights for three consecutive evenings, there was no curfew. All citizens wore moon-white clothing, carried lanterns, wandered the streets and alleys, and celebrated through the night. The city also opened parts of the city walls, allowing people to climb the towers and admire the prosperous nighttime scenery of Jinling.

Moon-white was a light blue color that appeared white under moonlight, hence the name “moon-white.”

“To look beautiful, wear mourning white.” This color would add three points of beauty to anyone, though when hundreds of thousands of people throughout the city all dressed this way, wearing the same outfit wasn’t embarrassing—whoever looked ugly felt awkward.

At that time, Hu Shanwei felt that among all the men in the city, none suited moon-white clothing better than that man carrying a rabbit lantern under the moon.

While strolling the streets, roadside vendors enthusiastically recommended various jade jewelry. She chose the cheapest jade hairpin, spending only half a string of coins.

She had her dignity and wouldn’t let her fiancé spend too much money. Besides this, she also bought pastries for her fiancé to take to his future mother-in-law as a return gift, not taking advantage of them in the slightest.

He personally placed it in her hair bun, saying: “After we marry, you can’t be so polite anymore.”

She smiled faintly: “Don’t I look good wearing this?”

He said: “Beautiful—elegant and refined, like a narcissus flower.”

She looked at her fiancé dressed in moonlight white and thought: I think you look even better than a narcissus.

That inexpensive jade hairpin became her most frequently worn accessory. That night in the Treasury, during the chaos, it was stepped on and broken. She had felt regretful about it—jade truly responds to human nature.

When the person was gone, the jade shattered.

She never would have expected that Mu Chun would “collect the remains” of the broken jade hairpin and, melting gold, repair it into a completely new jade hairpin.

Since the previous hairpin had shattered too severely, the craftsman didn’t simply make it into a stick shape. Skilled hands ground the broken jade into nearly transparent thin slices, crafting them into petal shapes at the hairpin head, with golden threads cut into flower centers, creating the form of a jade-petaled, gold-centered narcissus flower.

Completely transformed—even its own mother wouldn’t recognize it.

So someone did care, someone did think of her.

Hu Shanwei’s heart warmed, and she instinctively wanted to accept it, but then she thought: I’m about to return to the palace to see Her Majesty the Empress, to request a decree from the Empress to investigate Liu Siyan’s group’s whereabouts—to see them alive or see their corpses if dead.

Just as Mao Qiang had said, this move carried great risk. Prince Qin was a feudal prince, and the slightest carelessness could result in charges of sowing discord among the imperial family—a capital offense. Mu Chun was determined to become a marquis in the future. To secure his prospects, he was currently disciplining those troublemakers at Eagle Guard, beating others while getting beaten himself, and having to say those crude words and perform those vulgar, obscene actions…

She should bear the consequences of her own affairs without implicating others, especially since Mu Chun was her confidant and the only person who cared about her.

So Hu Shanwei’s hand struggled in her sleeve for a moment before she decided to let go.

She said against her will: “Don’t try to fool me with some random gold-inlaid jade narcissus hairpin, claiming it’s the one that broke before. Besides, hair buns under official caps are no longer suitable for flower hairpins.”

Under the black silk cap, there was only room for the simplest wooden or jade hairpin. Having chosen the official path, she had to blur feminine characteristics—beauty and elegance were no longer what she sought.

Hu Shanwei rejected Mu Chun’s gesture of goodwill and returned to the palace.

Mu Chun stood outside the Embroidered Uniform Guard office in a daze. After a while, he frantically kicked the door.

Ji Gang opened the door and let Mu Chun in.

Mu Chun asked Mao Qiang: “Why did Sister Shanwei look unhappy when she left here? Did you bully her? Or did you think up some vile method to drive her from the palace?”

Mao Qiang sipped his tea: “Don’t try to frame us again. She looked unhappy when she arrived. As for me driving her from the palace, that’s even more absurd. When she was just an eighth-rank female historian, I couldn’t touch her. Now that she’s been promoted twice and become a favored person, how would I dare to move against her casually?”

Mu Chun asked: “Then why is Sister Shanwei unhappy?”

Mao Qiang said: “It’s none of your business. You’re no longer part of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Ji Gang, escort the guest out.”

Mu Chun’s heart was full of questions, but soon he understood what was happening.

Because Empress Ma had issued a decree commanding female official Hu Shanwei to travel far to Xi’an, to hold Princess Qin accountable and work with Prince Qin’s mansion to find Liu Siyan’s group’s whereabouts, also ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guard to send elite soldiers as escort.

Indeed, as Mao Qiang had predicted, Empress Ma sent a female official as representative, controlling the conflict within the scope of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relations, preventing it from escalating to central government versus feudal state issues while still achieving the objective.

From outsiders’ perspective, it was a mother-in-law bestowing books to discipline her daughter-in-law. When the messenger disappeared in the feudal territory, the mother-in-law was displeased and sent another group to demand accountability, questioning the daughter-in-law, with no relation to the son.

The matter was urgent—if Liu Siyan and the others were still alive, every day’s delay increased the danger. They would depart first thing tomorrow morning.

The palace was still wearing autumn lined garments; winter clothes hadn’t been distributed yet. Mei Xiang gave Hu Shanwei her best cotton robe: “I heard the northwest is cold and it snows in October. Teacher brought nothing when entering the palace. This is my cotton robe from last year that I haven’t worn. Please take it, Teacher.”

When Hu Shanwei entered the palace, she didn’t even have shoes. Mei Xiang had personally measured her size. Who would have thought they’d become teacher and student?

Hu Shanwei didn’t refuse, packing it in her trunk and instructing: “Don’t worry about me. Focus on your studies. At the year-end examination, you must pass to become a female scholar.”

Fan Gongzheng sent over hand warmers, ear covers, fur-lined boots that were warm inside and out, and other cold-weather items, saying: “Remember, though the princely mansion is noble, you are a female official sent by the Empress, representing the dignity of the Empress and imperial family. Fight when you can fight; when you can’t win, don’t be stubborn. Record everything and attach evidence—Her Majesty the Empress will support you. Know that the rigid easily break; only by being flexible can one endure.”

Hu Shanwei agreed.

Shanggong Cao from the Palace Administration Bureau actually sent Hu Shanwei a whole trunk of precious fox furs!

Hu Shanwei hastily said she couldn’t accept payment without merit and dared not accept such valuable gifts.

Shanggong Cao said irritably: “Look at how poor and shabby you were when entering the palace—you really disgraced us female officials. You don’t want face, but we do! Tsk tsk…”

Shanggong Cao disdainfully rummaged through the clothing trunk, throwing out the cotton robe Mei Xiang had given Hu Shanwei: “You treasure even the broken clothes worn by palace maids.”

Mei Xiang kept her head down, not daring to speak. She was the lowest-ranking palace maid, while Shanggong Cao was the highest-ranking palace administrator—she had no right to speak here.

“Shanggong Cao!” Hu Shanwei was angry. She picked up the cotton robe from the ground, brushed off the dust, folded it neatly, and put it back in the trunk: “Please take the fox furs back, Shanggong Cao. This subordinate doesn’t need them. This subordinate comes from common people, a plain cloth citizen without the habit of wearing furs.”

Shanggong Cao scolded: “You don’t know what’s good for you! I’m giving you dignity, telling you not to be too shabby lest the princely mansion look down on you, but you refuse to save face!”

Hu Shanwei retorted: “I’m going to Xi’an on Her Majesty the Empress’s orders, not yours, Shanggong Cao!”

Shanggong Cao said coldly: “Liu Siyan is someone I personally cultivated. You must bring her back to me. If anything happens to her, don’t expect to have a single good day in the palace.”

“Enough!” Fan Gongzheng slammed the table: “Hu Shanwei belongs to my Palace Rectification Department. This isn’t your Palace Administration Bureau. If you want to discipline her, you must ask me first.”

Shanggong Cao said sarcastically: “The missing person isn’t from your department. If it were you, you’d pressure even harder than I am.”

Fan Gongzheng said: “The cause and effect haven’t been clarified, and life or death is unknown, yet you can’t sit still? Shanggong Cao is still too young. If it were me, I wouldn’t be as hasty and reckless as you, throwing a tantrum without understanding the truth.”

“Fine, I’ll wait for Hu Shanwei’s news. If…” Shanggong Cao gave a warning look: “I swear, from now on, Hu Shanwei will have no place to stand in this palace.”

After walking a few steps, Shanggong Cao turned back: “When Liu Siyan left the palace, she said she’d return in just over a month. She only brought summer clothes and a few autumn garments, with no winter preparations. Take these fox furs—for her to wear.”

After Shanggong Cao and Fan Gongzheng left one after another, Mei Xiang wiped away her tears and stood up: “Please rest assured, Palace Rectifier Hu. I will definitely pass the female scholar examination. I won’t forget today’s humiliation.”

The room returned to quiet. Hu Shanwei leafed through a stack of books—all local gazettes of Xi’an Prefecture recording local astronomy and geography, customs and culture, chaste and virtuous women, lawsuits and legal cases—comprehensive in every detail.

While reading, Female Instructor Shen Qionglian arrived.

Hu Shanwei hastily went to pour tea, receiving this distinguished guest.

Shen Qionglian’s short legs barely reached the footrest. She waved her hand like a little adult: “Don’t bother. Your tea here isn’t as good as mine—it doesn’t taste good.”

Female officials’ treatment also differed by rank. Though Shen Qionglian was one level below Hu Shanwei, all the female officials treated her like a child, giving her the best food and provisions. She had just composed new palace poetry with the lines “Mandarin duck tiles fly through one night, iron plaques in deep prohibition make sparse the leaking sounds.” Empress Ma was very pleased and bestowed many fine things, so her tea was much better than Hu Shanwei’s.

Hu Shanwei had to stop and offered two types of delicate pastries—these were gifts from Chen Er’mei for her journey.

Shen Qionglian picked a water chestnut flour cake to eat. Her rosy, soft cheeks got a bit of sugar frost on them as she pulled a small seal wrapped in a handkerchief from her bosom: “This is my seal. If you encounter trouble and urgently need money, take this seal to any Shen family money exchange. You can withdraw up to one hundred thousand taels of silver.”

Hu Shanwei thought this was childish nonsense: “This… on my trip to Xi’an, I’ll stay at post stations all the way—I won’t need to spend money.”

Shen Qionglian said: “But I heard from the palace maids in class that Liu Siyan hasn’t returned and probably met with disaster. They say bandits coveted the gifts from Prince Qin’s mansion and committed murder for robbery. I think bandits only want money. If you also encounter disaster, one hundred thousand taels should be enough to save your life—just give it to them. You’re a decent person, and I hope you can return.”

Children are so naive. Hu Shanwei smiled bitterly: “Why do you think I’m decent? Palace rumors say I pushed Liu Siyan out to take the blame. My reputation is now ruined.”

Shen Qionglian said: “That’s why they’re all blind mediocre people. In summer when you confronted the then Noble Consort Hu in the Treasury, I thought anyone who cherishes books should be pretty decent. Anyway, this seal is useless to me in the palace, so I’ll give it to you to save your life—what if you need it?”

One seal, one hundred thousand taels of silver? This had to be a joke.

Hu Shanwei politely refused: “Such a valuable item—I dare not accept it.”

Shen Qionglian became somewhat angry: “Do you think I’m being fanciful? Let me ask you—what’s my surname?”

“Shen.”

“Exactly.” Shen Qionglian said: “The richest man at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, Shen Xiu, nicknamed Shen Wansan—he was my ancestor…”

It turned out Shen Xiu had over ten wives and concubines. Later, because he had previously supported Prince Wu Zhang Shicheng, Shen Xiu was suspected by the Hongwu Emperor and exiled to Yunnan. The generation’s richest man died on the Great Ming frontier.

However, like a centipede that doesn’t die easily, Shen Xiu’s descendants had branched out and now numbered over a hundred people. To avoid disaster and mutual implication, the clan had divided their households to live separately. Shen Qionglian’s branch was doing well, beginning to cultivate family disciples in scholarship. Shen Qionglian’s father was a recommended man, and her elder brother had also passed the scholar examination.

Doing big business required backing in official circles. Shen Xiu’s son-in-law Lu Zhonghe had attached himself to Prime Minister Hu Weiyong, conducting business prosperously. But today, in the thirteenth year of Hongwu, Hu Weiyong was charged with treason and overnight was completely exterminated by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, his court faction uprooted entirely.

Lu Zhonghe, as Hu Weiyong’s money bag, was also labeled part of the Hu faction. His entire family was sentenced to death and their property confiscated by the government.

Shen Qionglian said: “…I thought, since doing business requires depending on officials, what official in this world is greater than the Prime Minister? Yet even the Prime Minister could fall overnight. So I told my family—stop depending on those officials. I’ll become an official, and you can depend on me instead.”

“The scholarly men in my family, including my father, are all mediocre in talent. Though we spent much money hiring famous teachers, I estimate they’ll at most reach the recommended man level—passing the imperial examination is unlikely. So I took the female official examination. My family gave me one hundred thousand taels of silver as my private property, verified by this seal, exchangeable at Shen family money houses everywhere.”

Being able to pass the recommended man examination made one a dragon among phoenixes.

If anyone else had said these things, Hu Shanwei would have thought them arrogant, but coming from Shen Qionglian’s mouth, she believed eighty percent of it.

Hu Shanwei looked at the thumb-sized seal: “Such a valuable thing—what if it gets lost?”

Shen Qionglian said airily: “It’s just money. If it’s lost, it’s lost—I won’t make you compensate. Life is more important. It’s best if you can use it; if not, just bring it back to me.”

“I’m leaving now. Don’t tell others what I’ve told you today to avoid trouble. Very few people in the palace know my family background.” Shen Qionglian jumped down from her chair, brushing pastry crumbs from her baby-fat cheeks:

“You must return. Among the forty-four female officials who passed the examination with us this time, I’m most optimistic about you. If you become rich and noble, do not forget me.”

She never would have expected that everyone entering the palace initially had their own purposes. Jiang Quan sought reunion with her daughter, Shen Qionglian sought to become an official and the pillar of her family, while only Hu Shanwei had the smallest goal: merely seeking a place to shelter.

Comparatively, Hu Shanwei’s purpose for entering the palace was the most pure. Yet fate played tricks—the most innocent one had been caught up in various whirlpools and storms from the moment she entered the palace, making the least ambitious person become the most ambitious.

Hu Shanwei sewed the seal into her skirt hem. One hundred thousand taels of silver—enough to make nine dragon robes. Shen Qionglian was not only talented but also wealthy, and not only wealthy but also enviably young at only thirteen years old.

The next day, with clear autumn skies, Hu Shanwei departed with three hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards, still led by Ji Gang. With less autumn rain, it was good for traveling. Hu Shanwei decided to quicken the pace—they must reach Zhouzhi County in Xi’an Prefecture, where Liu Siyan’s group had disappeared, within ten days.

Mu Chun watched the procession disappear into the rolling red dust, then waved his hand: “You eight, secretly follow Palace Rectifier Hu. Here are travel passes and household registrations. Let the Xi’an bandits know how formidable you Jiangxi bandits are.”

The thin Centurion Shi looked at Mu Chun with concern: “Master Mu, with all of us gone, can you alone subdue those lawless monkeys in Eagle Guard?”

Mu Chun said: “Don’t worry. I borrowed ten veteran soldiers from my uncle to keep order. Your mission is to protect Palace Rectifier Hu. Don’t worry about anything else.”