Apprentices were not like regular employees who needed to report for roll call. Her superior was her master, and if the master agreed, matters could be easily arranged.
Wu Chang Geng was most fond of his apprentice. Knowing she wanted to stay and play the horn, he waved his hand and said, “I’ll give you a day off. Go ahead and play.”
She beamed with joy, her eyes crinkling. “I’ll earn money and buy you some wine.”
After seeing off her master and Xia Zhi, a group of horn players and cymbal players gathered around an eight-immortals table and began performing with great enthusiasm. In July, the atmosphere was as gloomy as a funeral tent; even sitting in the shade was unbearably stuffy. Ding Yi played while glancing toward the memorial hall. The eldest grand-aunt had finally been subdued and was properly wearing mourning clothes for her brother’s wife. With a white hat on her head and hemp cloth sewn onto her shoe tips, she knelt before the offering table. Though her face wasn’t visible, one could guess she wasn’t having an easy time.
Master Shi was now a single man, and being someone who didn’t normally engage in productive activities, he inevitably tried to shirk expenses when it came time to pay. The Brigadier Lord had no choice but to dig into his pocket to pay for his sister’s memorial service. It was said that due to the summer heat, the body couldn’t be kept for long, so after just one day, they were preparing for burial.
Since the Brigadier Lord was in charge of arrangements, many people came. Colleagues who regularly associated with them didn’t show their faces, as they had no official reason to attend, so they sent their household stewards to deliver condolence gifts and money. Ding Yi saw several familiar faces who came in, bowed in the memorial hall, registered their gifts in the account book, and then left. As for the horn players like themselves, they would play lively music when someone entered, keeping busy for a couple of hours. Later, as visitors became fewer, everyone took water breaks to rest, basically just eating refreshments without working.
Hot air wafted over, making her neck completely sweaty. She said a word to the band leader, planning to go back to her room to wash her face. Just as she stood up, she saw someone entering through the door—it was Guan Zhao Jing, the steward from the Pure Prince’s mansion. She exclaimed in surprise and went forward to greet him, immediately bowing deeply, “Manager Guan, you’re here?”
Guan Zhao Jing looked and recognized a familiar face. Judging by her attire, he knew right away. “I run into you everywhere! Well, well! The master handles beheadings, and the apprentice handles funerals, not missing either end.”
Ding Yi smiled, “This is just a coincidence. I live right here. I’m not working as a funeral musician, just playing a bit to help the neighbors. How about you? Are you here on the Prince’s business today?”
Guan Zhao Jing said no, “I have a personal connection with the Brigadier. When I heard the news, I naturally had to come to pay my respects.”
Ding Yi enthusiastically led the way, taking the opportunity to inquire whether the Prince was in his residence today. “Yesterday we agreed I would visit the mansion. I’m afraid I’d make a wasted trip if His Highness isn’t there.”
After solemnly offering incense to the deceased, Guan Zhao Jing replied as they exited, “You have business with the Prince? Don’t keep running there, that’s a royal mansion, not your family’s heated kang bed.”
Ding Yi grumbled inwardly, if it weren’t for wanting to join the expedition to Changbai Mountain, she wouldn’t bother trying to curry favor where she wasn’t welcome. Since the conversation had reached this point, she tried to get on Eunuch Guan’s good side, saying, “I won’t hide it from you. All this effort is just so I can enter the Prince’s mansion. You’re the head steward there—if you could think of a way to help me, you’d be my benefactor.”
Guan Zhao Jing rolled up his sleeves, looking cocky, “Didn’t I tell you last time? The Prince doesn’t lack people in his service. If you went in, your martial skills aren’t sufficient—they’d even complain your height is too short to carry a sedan chair.”
Ding Yi felt a bit discouraged hearing this, “Then can you at least tell me if the Prince is there today? I want to plead with him one more time. If it still doesn’t work, I’ll give up on this idea completely.”
“You won’t turn back until you hit a wall!” Seeing his persistence, the eunuch sighed, “He’s there. Next month he’s heading to Ningguta, so many things need to be prepared in advance. When you arrive, wait at the gate. As I said before, I’ll announce you, but whether you’re received or not depends on the Prince’s wishes.” He clicked his tongue, “You’re sticky, I’ve never seen such a stubborn mule like you.”
Ding Yi saw him off with a smile, no longer caring about playing the horn. She hurried back to wash up and change into clean clothes. She had put away that umbrella, afraid the ribs would open, and had specifically tied it with red silk. Thinking about going to Pure Prince’s mansion, her heart pounded heavily. She looked in the mirror repeatedly, smoothed her hair, moistened her lips, and then suddenly realized she was being silly and laughed at herself.
Walking under the blazing sun, it was more than ten li from Dengshikou to the northern bank of the Back Lake. Fortunately, her luck was good—at the alley entrance, she met a familiar cart driver, Water Three, and caught a ride on his donkey cart to Guanghua Temple, which wasn’t far from the Pure Prince’s mansion. The sun was so bright it made her eyes swim. She held the umbrella in her arms without daring to open it, hesitating whether this hour might be the Prince’s nap time, unsure if it was appropriate to visit now.
Standing at the edge of Shichahai Lake pondering, she felt awkward going empty-handed. Looking around, she spotted a fruit stall by the lake railing. This season offered many fruits, like juicy apricots, Jiubao peaches, and crabapples. Not knowing what the Prince liked to eat, she picked a bag of water caltrops, then added two fragrant sheep-horn honey melons, and headed to the Prince’s mansion.
When she arrived at the gate and waited to be announced, the gatekeeper, who had previously seen the Prince chatting with her, showed a very different attitude this time. He welcomed her, saying it was too hot outside, and invited her in to wait, which was already showing her favor.
Ding Yi acknowledged and had just stepped over the threshold when she saw a group of people coming from the corridor. Dressed in brocade and jade, walking with magnificent presence, and upon closer inspection, with those striking phoenix eyes—it was the Virtuous Prince.
She was startled, certain that encountering him meant trouble. She quickly tried to shrink her neck and slip into the servants’ waiting room, but from the other side, her name was called out loudly—
“Mu Xiao Shu!”
She felt as if struck by lightning, her limbs stiffening as she turned around. Before she could speak, the Seventh Prince snorted heavily, “What’s this? Guilty conscience makes you hide when you see me?”
She quickly denied it, “I wouldn’t dare… I just didn’t see you.”
“Is that so?” He sneered, “Your eye sockets are big enough.”
It was provocative. Hong Tao thought to himself that this little rascal had fallen into his hands several times, but he’d never been able to vent his anger properly, so seeing his enemy made his eyes burn with hatred.
He tapped a folding fan repeatedly against his palm, circling her twice, and noticed this young fellow had an interesting appearance. A little executioner with lips as red as cherry and teeth as white as jade—it was almost ridiculous. Who could he possibly intimidate? He pointed and asked, “Not empty-handed, I see. Are these thank-you gifts for the Twelfth Prince?”
Ding Yi stammered, “These aren’t worthy to be thank-you gifts, just ordinary snacks.”
The Seventh Prince put his hands behind his back, shifting his gaze to mid-air, “Since you know the rules so well, why haven’t I seen you come to my mansion to apologize? That dog your senior apprentice harmed was beaten to death and made into dog meat soup the other day. You see, it was being raised well, but after what you people did to it, its little life was lost. Shouldn’t you have bought a couple of melons and come to my mansion to offer condolences?”
Hearing this, Ding Yi thought it was a terrible waste, “You had it beaten to death?”
“Nonsense!” The Seventh Prince shook his sleeves, “Keep it alive to irritate me?”
She slumped her shoulders and murmured, “If only I’d known, it would have been better to give it to us, there would’ve been no need to kill it…”
This person didn’t seem to get the point. The Seventh Prince built up his anger and smiled at those beside him, mocking, “This creature has quite the imagination! That was an imperial dog, not some common street mutt that anyone can keep!”
The people who came with him laughed in agreement. Guan Zhao Jing, standing nearby, tried to smooth things over, “Why should the Seventh Prince bother with such a young nobody? Today I was delivering condolence money for Fourth Master Ding’s aunt and coincidentally ran into him playing as a funeral musician. This young man is earnest, he asked me about the Seventh Prince’s preferences, saying he wanted to earn money to buy gifts for the Prince…” He gave a meaningful look, “Xiao Shu, doesn’t the Prince know you’re poor? Though the items you brought aren’t impressive, don’t be embarrassed to present them. They still show your sincerity.”
Ding Yi finally caught on and, bowing repeatedly, presented the bag of water caltrops and two melons, “Manager Guan knows me well. I’ve always wanted to visit your mansion to apologize, but I feared you’d be angry seeing me. I’ve been saving money, but haven’t saved enough yet, and now I’ve run into you here.”
Who would care about these worthless trifles? Hong Tao wanted to snatch them up and smash them in front of him, but looking at those eyes again, he couldn’t quite bring himself to lose face.
That Jin was his steward, and being quick-witted, he knew that when the master didn’t erupt, it meant he was showing favor. He smiled as he accepted the gifts, tapping the melon with his finger, “Sir, the melons and water caltrops are in season now. Though they look ordinary, they taste quite good.”
Hong Tao grunted in acknowledgment. A person who rolled in mountains of gold and silver wouldn’t care about items bought with a few coins—he was showing favor. He cast a patronizing glance at Mu Xiao Shu and added, “So effeminate, looks uncomfortable no matter how you look at it.”
Cold sweat streamed down Ding Yi’s back as she forced a smile, “Your Highness doesn’t know, my sister and I were twins who looked identical. Later, my sister didn’t survive, leaving just me, so my appearance is what it is.”
“A pity about your sister.” Hong Tao’s words had a hidden meaning. Had the sister lived, she would surely have been a beauty, but as it was, the brother who remained seemed simple-minded. He turned to ask Zhao Jing, “What’s he here for? Did your master summon him?”
Guan Zhao Jing bowed and said no, “Executioners make their living from the blade. He feels he can’t do it anymore and wants to find a position in the Prince’s mansion. Our mansion doesn’t lack people, and the Twelfth Prince hasn’t agreed yet…” Suddenly remembering something, he exclaimed, “Doesn’t the Seventh Prince need a fish keeper? That Jin mentioned it last time. See if Xiao Shu would be suitable. This child is clever, and entering a Prince’s mansion would give him status. It would also be an opportunity for the Prince to redeem his sins.”
Now Ding Yi was dumbfounded. This was completely unexpected—she had no intention of entering the Virtuous Prince’s mansion. Although both were royal mansions, there was a world of difference between them. This time, Eunuch Guan’s good intentions had backfired. She couldn’t be ambiguous; any ambiguity would lead to trouble. So, she lowered herself and said, “I’ve never raised fish and wouldn’t dare take on such a responsibility. The fish in the Prince’s mansion are all precious. If anything happened to them, dying a hundred times wouldn’t be enough to atone.”
Hong Tao had a contrary temperament. If someone eagerly sought his favor, he would look down on them, but if someone declined before he had spoken, he would insist on making it happen. He turned to instruct Jin, “Don’t let him raise the dragon-eye goldfish, lest he kill them in my care. Calculate which position has vacancies and fit him in somewhere.”
Jin counted on his fingers, “There are vacancies in the garden, both in the cellar and greenhouse. I think the cellar is good—flowers and plants need to winter over, brought out during the day and back in at night. There’s plenty of work!”
Hearing this, Ding Yi nearly collapsed. How many potted landscapes did a Prince’s garden have? Moving them back and forth like that would be life-threatening! Besides, her desire to enter the Prince’s mansion was to accompany the northern expedition, not just to change occupations. After all, working under her master was comfortable, never going hungry or cold. Entering the mansion to move flower pots wasn’t her goal.
“This humble one has lofty ambitions,” she swallowed, “I want to enter the Prince’s mansion to be your attendant, not to cultivate flowers and plants. Seventh Prince, could you let me be a geshiha? If you agree, I’ll go to your mansion immediately. But I know becoming a geshiha requires being registered in the Banners, and I’m an orphan who doesn’t even know where my hometown is. Even if you wanted to elevate my registration, it would be very troublesome.”
“Reverse psychology, I know that trick. Becoming a geshiha is easy, and so is elevating your registration. See those two attendants of mine outside? If you can defeat them, never mind a mere geshiha, even if you want an official position, I’ll recommend you.” The Seventh Prince laughed heartily, his eyebrows flying upward, “I won’t force you to serve my flowers and plants if you’re unwilling. Guan Zhao Jing, pass a message to your master for me: I’ve taken a fancy to Mu Xiao Shu, but he’s unwilling to follow me. Since he won’t go to the Virtuous Prince’s mansion, he can’t stay in any other Prince’s mansion either. If your master keeps him, it would be opposing me, hurting our brotherly affection. I’ll hold you responsible.”
These words were too malicious. Ding Yi stared at him in shock, but he seemed quite pleased with himself. Not wasting any more words on her, he elegantly swept his robe and strode majestically out the main gate.
Guan Zhao Jing saw him off and returned to find himself face-to-face with her in mutual consternation. She looked dejected and said, “This is killing me! How can the Seventh Prince be so wicked? Not allowing me to seek a livelihood elsewhere if I don’t go to his place.”
Guan Zhao Jing rubbed his nose, “Actually, the Seventh Prince, though a bit wild, isn’t bad-hearted. If you worked under him, I can’t promise other benefits, but at least you wouldn’t be bullied by him anymore.”
Ding Yi was on the verge of tears, “I don’t want to tend to his flowers and plants…”
Guan Zhao Jing nodded helplessly, “Lofty ambitions, I understand. But now that he’s spoken, even if our Prince wanted to keep you, he couldn’t.” He sighed with his hands hanging down, “The Prince said when you arrived, you should be brought in. Regardless of other matters, we’ll figure something out after you meet him!”